Punjab can become a manufacturing hub for Middle East and Africa, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif informed Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Chairman Norihiko Ishiguro on Tuesday.
During a meeting in Tokyo, she invited Japanese investors and companies to manufacture and assemble products in Punjab.
Inviting Japanese investors to invest in the province, she vowed to provide them free land in tax-free Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of Punjab.
She also invited JETRO to start joint venture projects with private and public sector companies of Punjab.
The chief minister said, "Punjab is a big market from which Japanese investors can benefit."
She invited Japanese companies to build information technology parks in the Nawaz Sharif IT City, and discussed labour training and provision of trained and skilled manpower as per needs of companies in Japan.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "Pakistan is a country with a majority of youth. We want Japanese companies to support us in making our youth skilled.
She also reviewed possibilities of increasing the volume of bilateral trade.
She briefed the head of JETRO about various investment opportunities in Punjab. She apprised him of the progress of the IT city project. She said a twin tower project under construction in the Nawaz Sharif IT City would be completed soon and world-acclaimed companies in the business were interested to start operations in the zone.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stressed the need to increase business-to-business contacts between Japan and Punjab.
She said, "We want to take Punjab to the heights of technology on the model of Japan."
She added, "Punjab can provide surgical instruments, leather products and sports equipment to Japan."
She underscored, "Punjab is interested in increasing export of fine basmati rice to Japan."
The chief minister also visited a world-renowned hospital for treatment of infectious diseases, Japan's National Centre for Global Health.
She decided to introduce the Japanese healthcare and management system in Punjab. "Modern high-tech Japanese machinery, equipment and treatment methods will be used in the public sector health system of Punjab," she said.
She also decided to build a Nawaz Sharif Medical District on the model of the Japanese healthcare system. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said "We will introduce a health insurance system in Punjab like Japan." She and her delegation were given a briefing about Japanese treatment methods for diabetes, liver and infectious diseases.
She visited various departments of the hospital and reviewed various the facilities and equipment.
Japanese medical experts briefed her about liver treatment in the centtre.
The chief minister agreed to benefit from Japanese research for the treatment of diabetes, liver and infectious diseases in Punjab.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz spent a busy day in Tokyo during her five-day official visit and discussed matters pertaining to development projects with Japanese officials.
She visited various institutions related to urban development projects. She was briefed about the Japanese government services for clean water, sewerage, wastewater treatment, environmental improvement and saving the people from toxic carbon.
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