A Trade & Investment Seminar was held at the Pakistan Embassy on Friday 29 November, 2013. It was hosted by the Commercial Wing in collaboration with the Business Model Association to inform Japanese companies about the trade and economic regime in Pakistan including business and investment opportunities available there.
Leading politicians and academia attended the Seminar including Professors from University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Waseda Business School, Universal Design Institute for Information Technology and Rikkyo University Business School. The companies whose CEOs attended the Seminar included Accenture Japan, Upstone Technology Inc, Inspark Inc, Towers Watson Co Ltd, Hasso Corporation and Smile NC. Senator Kenzo Fujisue, Member of the House of Councillors specially joined the event later on and speaking on the occasion he termed Pakistan as an important country of the region and reiterated close cooperation between Pakistan and Japan.
Ambassador Amil gave the opening remarks introducing Pakistan’s many growing and expanding trade and economic opportunities. He assured that Pakistan was on a positive trajectory of growth and development and as always, valued highly the Japanese companies already operating there and warmly welcomed new ones to join in to benefit given the huge domestic and neighbouring markets. He expressed optimism that the Seminar would lead to positive developments. Perseverance and decisions made on sound assessments, not on perceptions and hearsay would bear fruit he argued. He urged participants to personally visit Pakistan to meet their partners in business and prosperity.
Economic Minister Dr. Talat Imtiaz gave a presentation within the context of the world economic situation and the Japanese economy. She made a case for investment in Pakistan with its myriad opportunities for growth and development. Commercial Counsellor Mr. Shehzad Ahmed gave a presentation within the context of the globalization and emerging trade opportunities in Asia. He made a case for Pakistan as a reliable trading partner with immense potential to do business with Pakistan.
The participating companies showed keen interest in the economy of Pakistan, trade and investment opportunities and asked many questions. In addition to responding to the questions several handouts on trade and investment in Pakistan, were also provided to the participants. The Q & A continued in the subsequent dinner.
