Pakistan-Japan Business Forum Holds 17th AGM, Signs MoU to Boost Bilateral Cooperation

Nauman Ali

Karachi: The Pakistan-Japan Business Forum (PJBF) held its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the residence of its Chairman, Murtaza Mandviwalla, under the patronage of the Consul General of Japan in Karachi, Hattori Masaru.

A key highlight of the evening was the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PJBF and the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS), marking a new step toward enhanced bilateral collaboration.

Presenting the Director’s Report, Mandviwalla informed members that PJBF had been actively engaged in a series of high-level meetings aimed at advancing its business objectives and strengthening Pakistan–Japan economic ties. The discussions involved officials from the Ministry of Commerce, JICA, the Board of Investment (BOI), the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

Mandviwalla highlighted that PJBF had successfully conducted two “Export to Japan” seminar series, held in Karachi and Lahore, showcasing business opportunities beneficial to both nations.

Recognized as one of the leading bilateral business platforms in the country, PJBF’s board comprises 20 directors, including 10 Japanese nationals representing major Japanese conglomerates operating in Pakistan. These companies maintain a strong footprint in diverse sectors such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, IT, textiles, engineering, fisheries, petrochemicals, and steel.

The 17th AGM reaffirmed PJBF’s position as a key institution promoting sustainable economic growth and business cooperation between Pakistan and Japan.