BD team starts visiting Japan today

A high-powered Bangladesh delegation that embarks on a visit to Japan today (Monday) will seek to establish direct air connectivity between the two countries and have the rules of origin simplified, officials said.
The delegation will also persuade Japanese entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh considering the investment-friendly atmosphere prevailing in the country.
Chief coordinator for sustainable development goals (SDGs) affairs at the PM's office Abul Kalam Azad will lead the team comprising government officials and trade boy leaders.
"We will urge the Japanese entrepreneurs to invest in the special economic zones in the country," commerce secretary Subhashish Bose, a member of the delegation, told the FE.
President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) said Japan, the single largest donor country for Bangladesh, has been cooperating in infrastructure building and other development activities.
"We will persuade Japanese entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh. We will also request them and the Japanese government to establish direct air connectivity between the two countries," he added.
Bangladesh and Japan have had the warmest of bilateral relations since independence of the country.
Over the years, increased economic, social and cultural exchanges have only strengthened this bond further.
Japan has provided Bangladesh with US $11 billion by way of assistance, of which $3350 million was grants and $4100 million was loans, according to the Economic Relations Division (ERD).
Japan has also pledged $6 billion in assistance to Bangladesh over the next five years by way of implementing the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (Big-B) plan and Bangladesh offered industrial plots in export processing zones (EPZs) exclusively to Japanese entrepreneurs.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com