Dhaka: Bangladesh has received a positive response from Japanese investors during Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s recent visit to Japan, as announced by Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today. “We hope that more Japanese investors will come to Bangladesh with investment proposals following the Chief Adviser’s Japan visit,” Alam stated at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the visit has elevated Bangladesh’s relations with Japan, highlighted by a bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Japan has expressed intentions to recruit 100,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next five years, prompting the formation of a taskforce to facilitate this initiative. Additionally, the number of Bangladeshi students in Japan is expected to rise, with 10,000 students projected to study there this year.
Japan has committed to providing Bangladesh with US$ 1.063 billion, including US$ 418 million in budget support. During Yunus’s visit, an Economic Partnership Agreement was also discussed, aiming to enhance economic and trade relations between the two countries. The Japanese government further pledged funds for railway development and climate change resilience.
At the Bangladesh Business Seminar, six Memorandums of Understanding were signed, focusing on economic and investment cooperation. Earlier, two MoUs were signed to boost the skills of Bangladeshi workers for employment in Japan. In a keynote speech at the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia, Yunus emphasized the potential for Bangladesh to become a significant manpower-exporting nation to Japan.
On the diplomatic front, Yunus sought support from former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for Bangladesh’s bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In recognition of his contributions to social innovation, Soka University awarded Yunus an Honorary Doctorate Degree. Yunus concluded his packed four-day official visit to Japan and returned to Bangladesh last night.