Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought Japan’s cooperation in diversifying Bangladesh’s export products. He said expanding the two countries’ existing economic ties would open new areas of trade and investment.
The prime minister asked for the cooperation at a meeting with Kataoka Susumu, president of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), at 11:45am Japan time on Wednesday.
Deputy press secretary to the prime minister Shahadat Swadhin gave the information.
The meeting discussed increasing Japanese investment in Bangladesh, export diversification, skills development and strengthening trade and economic partnership between the two countries.
Praising JETRO’s role in expanding Japanese investment in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said: “New opportunities for Japanese investment are opening up in Bangladesh. Bangladesh wants Japanese investment in advanced manufacturing, information and communication technology (ICT), automobiles, renewable energy and agro-processing in its special economic zones.”
Both sides agreed that the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement would play an important part in strengthening trade and investment ties between the two countries.
The prime minister also called on Japan to cooperate on Bangladesh’s skills development programmes and on setting up Japanese language training centres. The meeting noted that these initiatives would help create job opportunities in Japan and further strengthen the two countries’ long-term economic partnership.
JETRO President Kataoka Susumu said Bangladesh’s economic growth and geographical location make it a promising place to invest. He said various initiatives of the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had already drawn Japanese companies’ interest in doing business and investing in Bangladesh.
After the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended a lunch hosted by Kataoka Susumu at his invitation.
Mutual cooperation and advancing economic ties between the two countries were also discussed there.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman invited Kataoka Susumu to visit Bangladesh at a time convenient to him.
Present were Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury; Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat; the prime minister’s adviser on finance and planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir; State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir; State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit; Invest Bangladesh authority chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun; Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostakur Rahman; the prime minister’s special assistant Shakirul Islam Khan; the prime minister’s additional press secretary; and senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report