Foreign minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud sought 100 million US dollars assistance from Japan for making Bangladesh's ship breaking industry safe and sustainable.
"I requested Japan to help us with 100 million US dollars for developing the ship breaking sector which is one of the biggest in the world," he told reporters after holding a meeting with visiting Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Hosaka Yasushi at the foreign ministry in Dhaka, reports BSS.
Currently, the foreign minister said Bangladesh breaks 8000 scrapped ships annually while neighboring India breaks 10000 per year.
"They (Japan) had helped India to improve their ship breaking industry . . . so in line with that I also sought their help in this regard," he said.
During the meeting, Hasan also sought continuation of Japanese support, long-term plan for development of Southern Chattogram under the BIG-B initiative to enhance connectivity in the region and beyond.
He also emphasized on more Japanese investments in Bangladesh, particularly in the Special Economic Zones in Araihazar and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar at Mirsarai in Chattogram.
The foreign minister thanked Japan for sending the Trade Negotiating Team for EPA which will visit Dhaka from May 19-23, 2024 for the 1st round of Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiations.
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