UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday sought more Japanese investment to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021.
“We’ve already fixed our target of building Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021. So, we need more support and assistance from Japan to achieve this goal,” she said.
Hasina also said that the people of Bangladesh have been eagerly waiting to welcome the Japanese Prime Minister who is scheduled
to visit Bangladesh next month along with a delegation and hope to have good discussions during the talks.
The PM made the remarks when a four-member delegation attending the Joint Bangladesh-Japan Public-Private Economic Dialogue here made a courtesy call on her at her office this (Thursday) morning.
Japanese Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Norihiko Ishiguro led the Japanese team.
After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury briefed the reporters. During the meeting, the Prime Minister and the Japanese Vice Minister discussed issues relating to mutual interests including trade and investment.
Mentioning that a congenial investment-friendly environment now exists in the country, Hasina said: “The Japanese entrepreneurs could explore the opportunities by investing in a bigger way in Bangladesh.”
In this connection, she said that her government has allocated land for the Japanese investors in export processing zones (EPZs).
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh and Japan now enjoy excellent relations. Japan has been a consistent friend and reliable development partner of Bangladesh since the establishment of diplomatic ties in the early days of Bangladesh’s independence.
She recalled with gratitude the unwavering support and sympathy extended by the Japanese people during the War of Liberation in 1971.
“Japan was among the first few countries which recognized Bangladesh soon after its independence,” she said.
Hasina also recalled the historic visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan in 1973 and said the tour had laid the foundation of bilateral ties between the two countries.
The Prime Minister also remembered her recent official visit to Japan in May this year and holding the Summit Talks with Japanese premier Shinzo Abe.
The Japanese vice minister mentioned that Japanese investment in Bangladesh has increased 15 times during the period from 2009 to 2011.
He said, the Japanese entrepreneurs may invest in the sectors that are affected by the climate change.
Ishiguro said a high-level Japanese delegation comprising investors and businessmen would accompany the Japanese Prime Minister during his scheduled visit to Bangladesh next month. “They will see the opportunity of making investment in a bigger way in Bangladesh.”
He hoped that the Japanese entrepreneurs would show interest to invest in Bangladesh massively as Bangladesh is situated at a strategic location between South and Southeast Asia.
