Japanese envoy urges security to boost tourism

Consul General of Japan Hattori Masaru emphasised Pakistan's abundant tourism resources, particularly in the northern areas, but expressed concern over security issues, citing the impact of recent terrorist attacks, such as the one in Balochistan, on Japanese tourists.

"Pakistan's government has been doing its best to stop terrorism, and I hope they will continue their efforts to create a safe environment that ensures an increased number of tourists from Japan," Hattori said during a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), according to a statement issued by the KCCI on Thursday.

He also assured business leaders of Japan's commitment to strengthening bilateral trade relations with Pakistan.

Hattori, who was appointed consul general of Karachi eight months ago, highlighted that business relations between Japan and Pakistan have spanned over 100 years, beginning in 1918 when the Japan Cotton Trading Company (now Sojitz) established an office in Karachi to export high-quality cotton to Japan.

"Japan began importing Pakistani mangoes in 2011, and they are gaining a reputation as the sweetest mangoes in the world, becoming increasingly popular in Japan," Hattori noted. He added that Japan's Ministry of Agriculture visits Pakistan annually to inspect mango processing and packing facilities.

Highlighting Japanese investments in Pakistan, the envoy mentioned that last year, Morinaga Milk increased its capital by $57 million, and Toyota invested $100 million to start local production of hybrid-electric vehicles. Additionally, Kumon, a Japanese education company, has opened classrooms in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, with plans to expand to 15 classrooms by the end of next year.

In the information technology (IT) sector, Japan Station, which provides software offshore development services, is expanding its business. Human resource firms Plus W and Profound Vision have also established offices in Pakistan, assisting Pakistani IT engineers in securing job opportunities with Japanese companies.

Earlier, the KCCI president expressed concern over the low trade volume between Pakistan and Japan, noting that in FY2024, Pakistan's exports to Japan were around $184 million, while imports from Japan stood at $1 billion.

"To improve bilateral trade, both countries should focus on diversifying exports, addressing trade barriers, simplifying customs procedures, promoting ease of doing business, and incentivising SMEs to fully exploit opportunities and strengthen economic cooperation," he said.

The KCCI president also highlighted Pakistan's rapidly expanding IT sector, noting its impressive mobile and broadband penetration rates, which offer significant business and investment opportunities for Japanese investors.