UNB, Dhaka :
Japan will provide US$ 1.18 billion to Bangladesh for development projects in gas, power, urban infrastructure improvement and capacity building of government officials.
This was stated by visiting Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday during his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM’s special assistance Mahbubul Hoque Shakil briefed the reporters after the call on.
He said that the Japanese minister said that there are over 100 Japanese companies investing in Bangladesh as the country has an investment friendly policy.
He said that more Japanese companies are eager to invest in the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in reply told the Japanese minister that Bangladesh enjoys a very good trade relations with Japan. She hoped that this relation will grow significantly.
She said if the amount of the Japanese investment increases in the country the government might decide to get an EPZ for the Japanese investors under the private sector.
She recalled the contribution of the Japanese government after the independence of the country.
In this connection she said that Japan helped Bangladesh build a world standard hotel (Sonargaon Hotel) in the country and constructing the Bangabandhu Bridge on the river Jamuna.
She also said that after the forming of the governments in 1996 and 2008 Japan helped a lot.
Japanese foreign minister praised the pragmatic and able leadership of Sheikh Hasina during the worldwide recession that helped the country’s GDP grow by over 6 percent.
He also said that his country will work with Bangladesh to increase the trade and business of the two friendly countries as his government is committed for that.
Talking about Bangladesh’s contribution in the UN Peacekeeping Mission he said that Bangladeshi peacekeepers are very skilled. In this connection she said that Bangladeshi peacekeepers are working with the Japanese peacekeepers in South Sudan.
He also said that the national flag colors and sizes of the two countries show the eternal relations of the two countries. Japanese FM handed over a congratulation letter of the Japanese Prime Minister to Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of the Independence Day of the country.
