BSS, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday sought more Japanese investment to build Bangladesh as a middle-income country by 2021.
“We have set a 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.
The Prime Minister said this when a four-member delegation attending the Joint Bangladesh-Japan Public-Private Economic Dialogue here paid a courtesy call on her at her office this morning.
Japanese Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Norihiko Ishiguro led the team.
After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury briefed reporters.
He said the Prime Minister and the Japanese vice minister discussed issues relating to mutual interests including promotion of trade and investment between the two countries.
Sheikh Hasina said a congenial investment-friendly environment now exists in Bangladesh. “So the Japanese entrepreneurs could explore this opportunities by investing in a bigger way in Bangladesh,” she said.
In this connection, the Prime Minister said her government has allocated land for the Japanese investors in export processing zones (EPZs).
Mentioning that Bangladesh and Japan are now enjoying excellent relations, Sheikh Hasina said Japan is a consistent friend and reliable development partner of Bangladesh since the establishment of diplomatic ties in the early days of our independence.
The Prime Minister recalled with gratitude the unwavering support and sympathy extended by the Japanese people during the War of Liberation.
“Japan was the first few countries which recognized Bangladesh after its independence,” she mentioned.
Sheikh Hasina also recollected the historic visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan and said the tour has laid the foundation of bilateral ties between the two countries.
The Prime Minister remembered her official visit to Japan and holding of the summit talks with Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe.
Sheikh Hasina said the people of Bangladesh have been eagerly waiting to welcome Japanese Prime Minister, who is scheduled to visit Bangladesh next month.
The Japanese vice minister noted that Japanese investment in Bangladesh has increased 15 times in three years from 2009 to 2011.
He said the Japanese entrepreneurs may invest in the sectors in Bangladesh that are affected by the climate change impacts.
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 said.
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.
About the setting up the ultra supercritical coal-fired power plant at Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar with Japanese assistance, the vice minister mentioned that the technology that would be used in the power plant would be most modern and dependable.
PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Dr Gowher Rizvi, Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Shikdar, PMO Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury and Japanese Ambassador Shiro Shadoshima were present at the meeting.
