KARACHI, March 6: Consul General of Japan, Kanji Hanagata on Thursday said that Pakistan offered great potential for investment but law and order situation was the main stumbling block.

In a meeting with the members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), he said that Japanese investors put up their huge capital in only those countries where security to their people and investment is provided.

He said Pakistan will attract a number of foreign investors provided law and order situation improves in the country.

On prospects of Pakistani goods in Japanese markets, he said that local entrepreneurs can further increase the share of their products in quality conscious Japanese markets if they ensure quality and competitive prices.

He said research and development in various sectors in Japan has played a key role in its economic development and technological advancement in all sectors.

On regional conflicts between various countries, he suggested the governments to chalk out such policies that aimed at resolving such conflicts and issues through dialogues and negotiations.

He said that he did not mean that a country should ignore its defence issues. He said he was actually suggesting to devise such policies that regional conflicts could be resolved through negotiations only. The Consul General presented a detailed review of Japan’s economic development since its existence.

Chairman KATI, S.M. Naseer urged the consul general to motivate his government to offer same concessions to Pakistani exporters it is offering to least developed countries like Bangladesh so that Pakistani products could become competitive in the Japanese market.

He expressed the hope that the Japanese government would consider signing a free trade agreement with Pakistan as proposed by commerce minister during his recent visit to Japan. He said that the balance of trade between the two countries is not in favour of Pakistan.