Tokyo:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday called for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh's promising sectors, including ICT, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, through foreign direct investment (FDI) and public-private partnerships (PPP). He made this appeal during a meeting with Masumi Kakinoki, chairman of Marubeni Corporation and the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC), at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister highlighted various opportunities for Japanese entrepreneurs in the sectors of information and communication technology (ICT), green energy, and advanced manufacturing. He emphasized the potential for investment in these areas through FDI and PPPs. Additionally, he underscored the need to strengthen the Bangladesh-Japan economic partnership.
Tarique Rahman assured that the government is committed to creating an investment-friendly environment. Measures are being taken to expand opportunities for Japanese businesses through regulatory reforms, simplified investment approval procedures, and stronger public-private partnerships. Kakinoki expressed optimism that the effective implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan will bolster bilateral trade, increase Japanese investment, and create new business opportunities.
The Prime Minister also sought Japanese cooperation to modernize the Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO) and explore the feasibility of establishing a second fertilizer plant in Bangladesh. He requested support from the JBCCEC and Marubeni Corporation for the development of the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ).
During the meeting, Tarique Rahman praised Kakinoki's leadership in enhancing trade and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan, thanking him for his efforts in expanding Japanese investment in Bangladesh and improving business ties between the two nations. Present at the meeting were Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, and several other high-ranking officials.
On October 11, a delegation from Marubeni, led by its President and CEO Masayuki Omoto, met with Tarique Rahman in Dhaka to discuss expanding Japanese investment and cooperation in information technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fertilizer, and energy sectors. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister arrived in Tokyo on a four-day state visit, leading a 16-member high-level delegation.