Japan and Pakistan Economic & Cultural Association (JPECA) has been formally constituted to promote economic and cultural ties between the two countries. JPECA will work to bring together business leaders, chambers of commerce, social organizations and industrial associations of the two countries. The main objective of the association will be to foster linkages between the entities of the two countries to enhance economic and cultural ties for mutual growth and development.

In a ceremony for the establishment of the association in Islamabad, Takeo Kawamura and Mirza Asif Baig were appointed as its Co-Chairmen and Ijaz Khokhar and Jawwad Chaudhary were appointed as Vice-Chairman and Senior Coordinator respectively. Speaking at the ceremony, Mirza Asif Baig said that he expects the platform to be used for increased cooperation between the trade and business associations of the two countries, adding that both Japan and Pakistan can complement each other’s efforts for sustained economic growth and development.

He continued, “JPECA will provide a platform for public-private sector dialogue and highlight the role of businesses in sustainable economic growth. It has already held its inaugural session in Japan where members of business, government, industry and academia participated in large numbers.” He told the audience that JPECA has been registered in Japan and its main objective is to develop frameworks for collaboration in areas of economy, business, industry, academia and culture.

JPECA Vice Chairman Ijaz Khokhar, who is also the former chairman of PRGMEA, during his speech informed that JPECA and PRGMEA have already signed a memorandum of understanding to increase cooperation between the apparel industry of Pakistan and leading Japanese brands. He said that JPECA will be responsible for collaboration in a wide range of areas. “It will exchange ideas and information in trade and culture, co-host seminars, exhibitions and business delegations, and work to promote the soft images of both countries.”

He added that JPECA will emerge as the leading voice of the private sector through sustained public-policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and trade and cultural promotion activities both locally and internationally. Ijaz Khokhar said that JPECA will address major issues being faced by the industry of Pakistan and bring those issues to the forefront including compliance, gender training and exchange of delegations.

He continued, “our main goal is to find out how we can get our SMEs introduced in the Japanese market and how we can promote Pakistan’s soft image there. To achieve these goals, we will take a high-powered delegation to Japan to interact with the business community there.” “We will also invite our Japanese counterparts to Pakistan so that we can show them the manufacturing of different products in our factories. We will also expand the JPECA activities to other parts of country,” he added.

JPECA will start a membership campaign of different product manufacturers in Pakistan while its Japan side will provide the list of items being imported in Japan from different countries. This will give an idea to the Pakistani industry what products to produce and of what quality, so as to compete with other manufacturers from around the world for the capture of Japanese market. To that end Japan will offer concessions to the Pakistani businesses as it has been doing with traders from India and Bangladesh.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk