Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought Japan’s strong support in increasing Japanese investment in Bangladesh, expanding bilateral trade and transferring technology. Former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso, president of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL), told him that Japanese companies are very keen to invest in Bangladesh because of its favourable environment.
A high-level delegation of the league, led by Aso, paid a courtesy call on the prime minister in Tokyo at 3pm local time on Monday (26 October).
Describing the current state of relations between the two countries, Aso said a large share of Bangladesh’s population is young, and the political stability the country now enjoys has created an excellent environment for investment. In this positive situation, he said, Japanese businesses are showing great interest in increasing their investment in Bangladesh.
Tarique Rahman said his government has already taken a range of practical steps to ensure a business-friendly environment for foreign investors, and that the necessary legal reforms are being made to that end. He also outlined the government’s initiatives in priority sectors, including education and skills development. The prime minister stressed the importance of signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan quickly. Implementing the EPA, he said, would widen the scope for more Japanese investment in Bangladesh, greater trade and the transfer of advanced technology. He also sought Japan’s continued cooperation in carrying out the country’s national development priorities and building a skilled workforce.
The prime minister thanked Aso for his long personal role in strengthening the friendship between the two countries.
Tarique Rahman recalled meeting Aso during a visit to Japan in 2006, when he was senior joint secretary general of the BNP, then in government. Aso, in turn, recalled his past meetings with Bangladesh’s late former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
The prime minister noted that Aso had always played a constructive role in developing bilateral relations while serving as Japan’s prime minister, deputy prime minister, finance minister and in other senior posts.
Both sides agreed to expand political and economic ties and people-to-people contact.
Present on the Bangladesh side 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; Rehan Asif Asad, adviser on posts, telecommunications and ICT and on science and technology; State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir; State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit; the prime minister’s special assistant on overseas employment in the Asia-Pacific region, Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan; Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon; research officer Md Abdus Sattar Patwari; and senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.
With Aso in the Japanese delegation were former minister and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chairman Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tatsunori Ibayashi, and senior members of Japan’s parliament.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report