Message from Mr. Akira Ouchi, Consul General of Japan in Karachi
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I would like to make a report on the activities carried out by the Consulate-General of Japan from February
till March this year as written below.
On February 7, the Consulate-General of Japan held the orientation ceremony for the participants of JENESYS
(Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) Program who were selected from Karachi
and Quetta. JENESYS is a project launched by the Government of Japan to provide opportunities to develop
friendly relations by promoting mutual understanding through youth exchange activities. The Government of Japan
invited about 45, 000 youths from Asian and Oceanian regions from 2007 to 2012 and in January 2013,
Prime Minister Abe announced to further invite 30,000 youths from Asian and Oceanian regions, including Pakistan,
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under the JENESYS Program. As the first batch of JENESYS Program in Pakistan this year, total of 70 High School and University
students from Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta plus 5 supervisors visited Japan from February 8 to 18. As for Karachi and Quetta,
34 students and 3 supervisors visited Japan. They have deepened their understanding on Japan and developed friendly relations with
the Japanese youths.
On February 14, I visited the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) and the Secretary-General explained
to me the activities done by the OICCI. OICCI is playing an important role to support the economic activities of foreign companies
operating in Pakistan.
From March 7 to 9, Pakistan Japan Cultural Association(PJCA), Sindh organized Japan Fest 2014 in cooperation with the Consulate-General
of Japan, along with organizations related to Japan. I attended the Inauguration Ceremony as the Chief Guest. A Tribute to Ms. Fatima Suraiya
Bajia, Lifetime Chairperson of PJCA was also held. On March 8, Exhibition of Children’s Poster Contest was held. The theme of this Contest
was “Pakistan-Japan Building Friendship for Better World”. About 1,000 posters from various junior and senior schools, including
special schools, in Karachi entered the contest and 300 posters were displayed. The children of Japanese School in Karachi also
participated in this event and their work was also displayed. The testimonials and prizes were conferred to the authors of the excellent works.
The Consulate-General of Japan also conferred some Japanese cultural items to the children from special schools. During Japan Fest,
martial arts demonstrations were also held and the exhibitions of Ikebana (Japanese art of flower arrangement) by four Ikebana Schools
and the booths by the Consulate-General of Japan and Fuji Film, etc. were set up. Also, motorbikes and car from Suzuki Motors were displayed.
On March 18, the Annual General Meeting of Pakistan Japan Business Forum (PJBF) was held and Mr. Inomata, Ambassador of Japan to
Pakistan and I attended as patrons. Mr. Sohail, the President of PJBF made a report on the activities for the past one year of PJBF and
the new executive committee members of PJBF (10 Pakistanis and 10 Japanese) were elected.
On March 30, the 29th Japanese Language Speech Contestwas jointly organized by the Consulate-General of Japan at Karachi and PJCA at
the Japan Information and Culture Center. 11 Pakistani students participated in the Speech Contest, and 10 Pakistani students participated in
the Reading Contest. They presented their good knowledge of Japanese language they acquired so far to the audience.
March 31, 2014
Akira Ouchi
Consul-General of Japan in Karachi
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