Pakistani, Japanese leaders hold talks

Greater involvement sought in auto industry.

TOKYO: Pakistan offers a conducive environment to foreign investors, including ease in repatriation of earnings, Commerce Secretary Mahmood Zafar told a delegation of Japanese businesspersons on Friday. He was speaking at the opening session of the fourth meeting of the Pakistan-Japan Government Business Dialogue.

During discussions, the commerce secretary highlighted salient features of the policy for import of used cars in Pakistan. The commerce secretary also called for a relaxation in Japan’s visa regime for Pakistani businessmen; saying that since 2011, the Pakistani business community has been facing a lot of difficulties in obtaining visas for Japan. He said that like Europe, Japan should also offer concessions to Pakistani exporters; including duty free import of a large number of Pakistani items to Japan so that the huge trade imbalance between the two countries could be redressed.

Vice Minister for International Affairs of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Hideichi Okada said that Japan would further promote long-term investment in Pakistan. He also assured delegates that the Japanese government will encourage its automobile industry to further expand their operations in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2012.