Japan Joint Study Group (JSG), which would hold its first meeting in June, has been asked to submit its report within a year, focusing on measures required for a comprehensive expansion of trade in goods and services, investment flows and other areas of economic relations between the two countries. Earlier, during his meeting with Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the latter remarked the current volume of India-Japan bilateral trade of 4 billion U.S. dollars was not commensurate with the growing ties and hoped that it would touch 20 billion mark in the next five years. Koizumi also attended a business meeting organized by the premier of Indian chambers of commerce and industry, where he said strengthening economic ties was central to the global partnership between the two countries. Koizumi, who was accompanied by a 42-member delegation of officials and business leaders, departs for Pakistan on Saturday. -
