Tokyo:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized Bangladesh's national interests in fortifying bilateral relations with Japan and advancing development initiatives during his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to Foreign Affairs State Minister Humaiun Kobir.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the discussions between the two leaders were centered on enhancing trade, investment, and economic cooperation, particularly focusing on industries that generate employment and strategic economic projects.
State Minister Kobir highlighted that Prime Minister Rahman stressed the importance of prioritizing Japanese investments in sectors that have the potential to create jobs in Bangladesh. Japan's private sector is planning to invest approximately US$6.34 billion in Bangladesh over the next five years, potentially leading to the creation of around 200,000 jobs.
The summit also included talks on expediting the implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), with Bangladesh seeking Japan's support for a smooth transition from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. Bangladesh has requested an additional three-year period to prepare for this graduation, considering the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, longstanding economic issues, and the recent global energy crisis.
Both nations discussed the establishment of a joint ministerial-level mechanism to boost bilateral cooperation, identify priority sectors, set specific timelines, and regularly review progress. The strengthening of cooperation between the private sectors of both countries was also a key point of discussion.
Japan has expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh's energy sector, technology-driven industrial cities, and infrastructure projects, including elevated expressways. The state minister also mentioned Japan's development assistance of 5 billion yen, approximately US$34 million.
The visit was described as a significant opportunity to attract new investment and strengthen bilateral economic ties. Kobir noted that international partners show growing interest in investing in Bangladesh within the context of its new democratic journey. A key objective of the visit was to convert this interest into actual investment.
Prime Minister Rahman's tour of Japan's energy infrastructure and logistics facilities offered opportunities to learn from Japanese experiences for Bangladesh's development plans, particularly in LNG terminal development and modern logistics management.
The two countries are also discussing Japanese-language education and skilled workforce development, with a mechanism in this regard in the implementation stage. On the Rohingya issue, Bangladesh plans to raise the matter in various multilateral diplomatic forums next year, expecting Japan to play a positive role in resolving the crisis.
Overall, the visit was highly productive, with Kobir expressing hope that the constructive discussions would create new opportunities for Bangladesh's development, industrialization, and job creation. Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atikur Rahman Rumon and Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin were present at the briefing.