Breaking new grounds in Japan-Bangla relations

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Bangladesh rounds up the high-profile itineraries between the two countries in 2014. The process kicked off with Japanese foreign minister's visit to Bangladesh in March followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's tour of Japan in May. Also the visit by president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) in June this year should be counted very significant. These visits and exchange visits are indicative of warmer and closer relations between technologically developed Japan and a still struggling but aspiring Bangladesh. Clearly, the increasing bonhomie between the two countries will be of help for Bangladesh to attain the much sought-after middle-income status. As the country's largest development partner, Japan provided Bangladesh with $11 billion by the year 2013. Of the pledged $6.0 billion more in the next four or five years, $1.8 billion has already been committed for specific projects this year.
What is particularly important is that the two nations are dead serious about exploring fresh grounds for cooperation beyond the official assistance in the form of grants, aid, technical assistance and soft loans. The inclusion of a business delegation comprising quite a good number of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of leading Japanese companies in the entourage of Premier Abe marks that groundbreaking venture. Under an economic expansion programme smartly coined by the term 'Abenomics' after the Japanese prime minister's name, Japan has been on a drive to relocate its manufacturing plants in a number of South and East Asian countries. Bangladesh is considered a strong candidate for this relocation destination. After all, it complements the newly defined cooperation between the two countries to cover the BIG-B (Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt) initiatives. Now that the big Japanese companies have expressed their interests in investing in Bangladesh, the prospect for industrial and manufacturing development, thanks to high-tech Japanese input, in this country looks otherwise bright. The Bangladesh government on its part has also expressed its readiness to do all it can in welcoming such large investments. Already, top government functionaries here have sounded that an exclusive Japanese economic zone would be created in order to facilitate the process of industrial and economic collaboration. Now no time should be lost in redeeming the promises made by such functionaries.
The fresh initiative for furthering economic bond in the private sector is necessitated because of fund crunch and lack of technological advancement. The weak industrial and manufacturing base in this country however does not reflect the ability on the part of workers and managers to learn new trades. If the ingenuity of Dholaikhal mechanics is any guide, people here are not only quick learners but also innovative enough. Systematic training can whet workers' hanker for excelling in their trade. There is no reason why labour here will not prove a plus point for providing a definitive edge to industrial productivity. The areas cited by the Japanese delegates at a joint Bangladesh-Japan business forum on the sideline of the official programme are those where injection of resources and introduction of technology will do.
In the areas of infrastructure development, Japan's interests will prove no less vital. Relocation of plants is meant for taking business to a new level and in that effort infrastructure proves vital. Japan's assistance to the proposed largest-ever coal-fired power plant will show the way. In the transportation area, similar cooperation will be most needed. As things stand today, Japan-Bangladesh relations look well set to be further consolidated in the years to come.