UNB, Dhaka :
Japan wants to see Bangladesh to take a ‘very serious’ look at the ‘East’ instead of concentrating only on the ‘West’ to make the best use of its potential for trade expansion in the global market, said its Ambassador in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Japan visit, which Japan thinks to make a difference this time, will become an opportunity for them to convince her regarding the matter.
“We’ll try to impress her. Please, take a serious look towards the East. Because it’ll also satisfy your aspiration to diversify the base of your productions in the coming years,” said Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Shiro Sadoshima.
Many intermediary goods are traded within East Asian countries supply chain – Korea, Japan, China and Asean block – and they are assembled and exported to huge markets, including East Asia itself, as well as European Union.
The envoy made the remarks during his interactions with diplomatic correspondents at the Jatiya Press Club.
Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) arranged the event – Dcab Talks – with its President Mainul Alam in the chair. DCAB General Secretary Angur Nahar Monty was also present.
Responding to a question, Sadoshima said Bangladesh has been very successful in connecting it with European and North American markets. “You’ve done very good… now Bangladesh has become a major exporter of RMG to the world market, mainly Europe and American countries.”
He said Bangladesh, in the future, needs to seriously prepare itself to diversify export industry and products. “Japan will be happy to collaborate with you.”
On the Prime Minister’s visit beginning on May 25, the diplomat said, “I expect PM Hasina’s visit will become an opportunity to further develop our relations through building a comprehensive partnership.”
He said issues including that of political, security and economic cooperation and strengthening of human exchange will be discussed during the visit which will be the third visit for Sheikh Hasina to Japan.
The envoy laid emphasis on combining Pacific and Ocean and Indian Ocean for expediting regional economic activities on which Japan is now focusing on.
“These two pacific oceans look like a butterfly. We strongly believe that Bangladesh is going to play a very strong role for the prosperity and peace in the entire region,” he said adding that from Japan’s perspective, it also will provide good potential of economic activities.
On Japanese investment here, the diplomat said Japan wants to make the visit of the Bangladesh Prime Minister a difference with a pledge to work together to help bring Japanese investors to Bangladesh in a larger way.
“This visit will have a very important role. This time our strategy has become clearer. We need to work for closer and stronger collaboration so that both sides can efficiently translate the goals into reality,” he added.
Responding to another query, the Japanese diplomat said, “I’m not supposed to tell…I’m not supposed to disclose all these things. I’m not in a position to say.”
Emphasising regional comprehensive economic partnership, Sadoshima said the shortage of energy and transportation infrastructure are the two barriers to smooth investment in Bangladesh. “This should be addressed as quickly as possible. In general terms, Japan is always behind this country to support.”
Asked whether there is any stiff competition between China and Japan for having control over market, he said, “I don’t think we’re competing in that sense.”
He also talked about Japanese investment in building port at Matabari. “We’ve done a series of feasibility studies. We came to a conclusion that Matabari is the best location for the port.”
