\\\'Bantora Kun\\\' launched to boost trade between BD, Japan

After cricket team, Royal Bengal Tiger is chosen as goodwill ambassador of Japan and Bangladesh for boosting bilateral trade and commerce between the two countries as huge investments and business opportunities are expected in the coming years.
'Bantora Kun' which means 'Bangladesh Tiger Bhai' was officially launched as Japan-Bangladesh goodwill ambassador at a grand ceremony here on Sunday, ushering in new opportunity for expanding bilateral trade and commerce between the two countries.
Japanese Commerce and Industry Association in Dhaka (JCIAD/Shoo-koo-kai) launched the initiative to upgrade Bangladesh's image with bigger exposure in Japan and popular Bantora Kun as a mascot character.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Japanese Ambassador Masato Watanabe attended the ceremony as the chief and special guests and lauded the initiative for raising awareness of Bangladesh among Japanese companies and consumers.
Addressing on the occasion, Mr Tofail said Bangladesh gives topmost priority to Japanese entrepreneurs to invest in the country and provided them with pieces of land to establish special economic zones.  
"Bangladesh gives due importance to Japanese investment for development of the country and counts its contribution to 1300 megawatt Matarbari power plant and deep-sea port development," he added.
After the visit of two prime ministers, the minister said, Japan has become one of the important trade partners of Bangladesh and Japan's commitment of US$ 6.0 billion will help develop the country's infrastructures, including gas and electricity.
The total volume of trade between Japan and Bangladesh is now $ 2.5 billion, he said, adding that there is scope for increasing the volume of trade to $ 4.0 billion with more than $ 2.0 billion by exporting Bangladeshi products to Japanese market within next 2 to 3 years.
Bangladesh now exports goods worth $ 900 million to Japan and imports goods worth around $ 1.5 billion from Japan, the minister said.
Bangladeshi products have good opportunity for enjoying duty-free and quota-free market access to Japan and single stage rules of origin, Mr Tofail said, adding that the country has good scope for knit export to Japan.
Lauding the JCIAD/Shoo-koo-kai initiative to brand Bangladesh, the minister said with Bantora Kun, Japan is also branding Bangladesh to the world.
"It (Bantora Kun) is just a good beginning. We are very much interested to brand Bangladesh in different parts of the world. Japan as a closest friend has taken the responsibility to work as Bangladesh Ambassador."
He also highlighted the country's economic achievement and recognition by different rating agencies, including Washington-based Pew Research, JP Morgan, PricewaterhouseCoopers, World Bank and said the country will heading towards celebrating its 50th anniversary becoming a middle-income country.
The Japanese ambassador highlighted Bangladesh as an economic hub at the heart of Bay of Bengal and said this helps capture the mind of investors to invest more in Bangladesh.
He recalled his former colleague Shiro Sadoshima's contribution to popular Bangladesh, branding effort and popular Bantora Kun and said the 'Bangladesh Tiger' image will create better understanding of the country and inspire Japanese businesspeople to be more interactive with Bangladesh at all fronts.
    smunima@yahoo.com