Diplomat seeks more security steps for Japanese investors
Our Correspondent | Wednesday, 7 February 2018
CHITTAGONG, Feb 6: First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Bangladesh Takashi Shimokyoda said that many Japanese companies are interested to relocate their industries to other countries among which Bangladesh is on top of the priority list.
In this regard, he sought more security measures for the Japanese investors in this country.
He said many Japanese entrepreneurs were interested to invest in Bangladesh and they were consulting regularly with the embassy officials for that purpose.
He suggested organising a dialogue to create a strategic partnership for the development of Chittagong in coordination with the JICA, JBCCI and Japan Embassy in Dhaka.
Japanese diplomat Mr Takashi said this when a 12-member team of representatives of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) visited the Western Marine Shipyard in Patiya of Chittagong on the south bank of the River Karnaphuli recently.
Secretary-General of the JBCCI Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan, advisor of the JBCCI Mr Akhtaruzzaman and coordinator Ziaur Rahman were among other representatives. Managing director of the WMS Abdul Mobin, director (business development) Sabbab Hossain and director (commercial) Abdur Razzak facilitated the visit programme.
Mr Takashi lauded the Western Marine Shipyard for its continuous effort to boost the national economy by building and exporting world-class ships to different countries of the world.
A brief presentation on the shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh was made for the visitors.
It was stated that the local shipbuilding industry needs the policy support from the government because the capital-intensive sector is facing challenges.
When many ship builders across the globe have gone bankrupt, Western Marine is currently in the process of building 32 ships for different
foreign and local buyers, WMS authority said adding that many Japanese suppliers are exporting quality marine equipment for the WMS.
He expected that the Japanese companies will come forward to investing in the shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh to support Bangladesh achieve the middle income country status.