Kazi Zahidul Hasan :Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives in Dhaka today (Saturday) on a short visit to Bangladesh which analysts see that this historical tour would create a new horizon of bilateral cooperation in terms of trade and investment. They said, the visit of Mr Abe will be a milestone in further consolidating bilateral relations between Dhaka and Tokyo as the latter is now giving much importance to Bangladesh due to its geographical location.”The tour is bringing immense potential for both political and economic perspective between the two countries and I hope it will take Dhaka-Tokyo relationship to a new height with friendship treaties and techno-economic agreements,” Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, a teacher of International Relations at Dhaka University, told The New Nation on Friday.He added: The visit of Japanese Prime Minister will also create opportunities in boosting investment and technology transfer in various fields like industry, infrastructure, energy and environment conservation. “The visit of Mr Abe will also bring positive for the ruling Awami League government which is facing image crisis for holding January 5 election,” he said, adding, “When the Western world raised question about acceptability of the election, the visit of a high profile Prime Minister from a country like Japan, a good friend of Western countries, might help uplift the image of the government”. Prof Imtiaz further said that the leaders of ruling AL will try to boost up the morale of their supporters by cashing the visit of Japanese Prime Minister. Regarding the economic cooperation, he said, Bangladesh is lagging behind in infrastructure development and there is an urgent need for improving it. “The government policymakers should focus on the country’s investment need during the official talks between two Prime Ministers so that bigger Japanese investment could be mobilized in addressing the infrastructure deficits,” he said.”We know Japanese investors are now finding alternative destination to relocate their industries from China in the wake of rising cost of production there. In order to tap the opportunity Bangladesh must provide an efficient business environment to them,” he said.He also said that Japanese investors are very critical about governance problem, which exists in the country. Keeping this in mind, the government must ensure good governance in establishing their ventures in Bangladesh. On the political front, Prof Imtiaz said, Shinzo Abe and Sheikh Hasina are expected to discuss Japan’s candidacy on the UN Security Council during their talks. “It is learnt that Bangladesh would withdraw its candidacy before the council election in 2015 to support Japan. But my question is that what we will get from Japan for that sacrifice, he questioned? He added, “Bangladesh must bargain hard to get maximum benefit for the sacrifice.” “No doubt the visit will carry immense significance for Bangladesh with opening a new era of relationship with the Far East country,” said Prof Abu Ahmed, a professor of Economics at Dhaka University.He said, trade and investment talks are likely to be the veritable focal point during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister as 50 chiefs of major Japanese multinational companies will remain in the entourage of Mr Abe. Quoting government officials, he said, Japan is keen to finance mega projects like the Ganges Barrage, multi-modal tunnels under the Jamuna River, a railway bridge above the river, a multi-modal Dhaka Eastern Bypass, and the ecological restoration of four rivers around Dhaka. “If Bangladesh can win the commitment of Japanese investment in these projects and this could translate in signing agreement during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister in Bangladesh, it will be a great success for the government,” he said. Prof Ahmed also said, the government has decided to set up a separate Export Processing Zones for the Japanese entrepreneurs, which will accelerate Japanese investment in Bangladesh.”This will not only help create more employment opportunities for Bangladeshis but also more importantly will give us a chance to learn about the modern Japanese technology and management style,” he added. Terming the visit as a huge development, Dr A Mazid, former Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) said, Bangladesh and Japan have been maintaining a good and warm relation based on historical perspective and people of Japan is very friendly to us. “The visit of Mr Abe has created an opportunity to further deepening the bilateral ties with extending cooperation in the fields of trade and investment,” he added.He further said, the visit of Japanese Prime Minister is carrying great importance to us and I hope this will pave the way for the expansion of Japanese trade and investment with Bangladesh.”Japan is giving importance to Bangladesh due to geo-political reasons. Bangladesh becomes a buffer state as part of its strategic location. And so, Japan is keen to intensity its presence in South Asia with enhancing bilateral relation with Bangladesh, said Dr Mazid who also served six years from 1994 to 2000 as a commercial councilor in Bangladesh embassy in Tokyo. Regarding development assistance from Japan, he said, Bangladesh should concentrate more on capacity building for taking up finance assistance and investment from the country. Besides, it should emphasis more on timely implementation of Japanese funded projects. He further said, transparency, accountability and proper utilization of aid expenditure are must to make the Japanese government confidence that the aid provided from the taxpayers money to Bangladesh is used in proper way. Japan established its diplomatic ties in February 1972, soon after Bangladesh’s independence, and quickly became the country’s largest bilateral development partner.Its assistance comes regularly as grant, aid, technical assistance, and soft loans. The total grants and aid reached $11 billion last year.The number of Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh was 61 in 2007, which sharply rose to 176 in 2013. Till 2012, the total amount of Japanese investment to Bangladesh was $1.3 billion.
