Tokyo:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reached out to Japan for assistance in establishing a Technological Village and Innovation City in Bangladesh, while also seeking expanded collaboration in agricultural modernization, agro-processing, and light engineering.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister made this request during a meeting with Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The meeting highlighted Bangladesh's request for JICA's continued support, especially in infrastructure and energy security, as well as the expansion of cooperation under the Bangladesh-Japan Skills Partnership.
Bangladesh emphasized the need for concessional loans from Japan and the expansion of technical cooperation aligned with its development priorities. In the wake of the current global energy situation, Bangladesh also requested budget support to meet its energy needs and ensure energy security. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for Japan's long-standing cooperation and JICA's significant contributions to Bangladesh's socioeconomic development.
Prime Minister Rahman also stressed the importance of deepening the friendship between Bangladesh and Japan and continuing cooperation to enhance the development of Bangladesh and improve the living standards of its people. The meeting underscored the need to complete major development projects supported by Japan on schedule and discussed speeding up the approval and implementation of priority projects awaiting approval.
JICA President Tanaka reaffirmed his commitment to working with Bangladesh to achieve prosperity. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the proposed initiatives would further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, contributing to shared prosperity.
The meeting was attended by several Bangladeshi ministers and officials, including Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, and senior JICA officials, including Senior Vice-President Hara Shohei.