SIALKOT, Feb 14: The ambassador of Japan in Pakistan Mr Minoru Shibuya on Saturday asked the Sialkot business community to to explore Japanese electronics and trade markets.

He was addressing local traders at Sialkot Chamber's of Commerce and Industry.

He said Sialkot exporters had great potential to explore and capture the Japanese electronics market and European markets through the diversification of Sialkot's traditional and non- traditional export items.

The ambassador also visited various leading industrial units in Sialkot City. He assured to make all out efforts for enhancing the mutual trade volume in favour of Pakistan.

The Japanese envoy said that Japan and Pakistan were enjoying cordial and friendly trade relations since long and with the passage of time, these trade ties would further strengthen. He said that existing cordial relations between Japan and Pakistan provide strong basis for enhancing economic, commercial, scientific and cultural co-operation.

He said that there were bright prospects for expanding trade relations between Japan and Pakistan. He highly hailed the great potential of dynamic growth in Pakistan's macroeconomy saying that Pakistan had achieved considerable milestone in modernizing it's economy.

Mr. Minoru Shibuya also offered some direct trade relations to Sialkot business community for enhancing and strengthening the trade ties.

The Japanese ambassador said that there are bright opportunities of setting up various joint ventures between Japan and Pakistan in different trade fields, as various Japanese companies have shown keen interest in establishing joint ventures with Sialkot business community. He said that both these friendly countries were enjoying good trade relations and it was high time to make some effective and sincere efforts for further accelerating the pace of mutual trade activities.

He assured Sialkot business community about the early provision of up-to-date trade information of Japanese international trade & export markets.

He also announced his full co-operation in promoting the electronics industry in Pakistan and modernising it, besides exploring new vistas in this sector. He said that all out efforts would be made to motivate the Japanese investors to invest in the grand project of Sialkot export-processing zone (EPZ).

Later, talking to the newsmen at SCCI, the Japanese envoy said that Pakistan's economy was getting strong due to the effective and positive policies of Pakistan government. He expressed satisfaction over the complete eradication of child labour from Sialkot's soccer ball industry. Highly hailing the unique export culture of Sialkot, he said that Sialkot has undoubtedly assumed a model status for the developing world, after the "un-matched" development of its cottage industries.

Japanese envoy also invited SCCI's delegation to visit and participate in all the major Japanese international trade fairs and exhibitions.

President SCCI Tahir Majid Kapur welcomed these offers, hoping that they would be helpful in developing the mutual trade ties between these two friendly countries.