Representatives of public and private sectors of Bangladesh and Japan sit here today (Thursday) to open economic dialogues for the first time towards promoting investment and trade between the two countries to a new height.
The first Bangladesh-Japan public-private economic dialogue begins at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) where issues of removing tariff barriers, quota-and-duty-free trade are likely to be discussed.
The Bangladesh-Japan Public-Private Economic Dialogue has been organized as a follow-up to the joint statement signed between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Japan during the visit of the former to the economic powerhouse in May.
As the visit has uplifted the Japan-Bangladesh bilateral relationship onto a comprehensive partnership, the economic dialogues would play a positive role in taking forward the partnership for the socioeconomic development of the two Asian countries, sources said.
An eight-member committee which was formed earlier with the secretaries and heads of different ministries, including foreign affairs and commerce, ERD (economic relations division), BOG (board of investment) and other relevant agencies will represent the host side.
Sources said a Japanese Vice President and the Japan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission Chairman will be present, among others, from the Japanese government side.
The private sectors to be represented in the economic dialogues include the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Principal Secretary to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Abdus Sobhan Sikder, will preside over the meeting as the head of Bangladesh committee.
"The dialogues between the public and private sectors of Bangladesh and Japan have been necessary to remove the barriers faced during investment and trade earlier by public sectors of the two countries," said a source.
Agenda of the first dialogue is expected to be focused on the issues of removing tariff barriers, quota-and duty-free trade aimed at boosting bilateral relationship onto a comprehensive partnership between the two countries.
During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe assured of reducing one stage of the rules of origin for Bangladesh readymade garment export to Japan.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also assured of providing land, setting up of industrial park etc to Japanese investors.
