Hasina for comprehensive economic agreement with Japan
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
TOKYO, Nov 29 (BSS): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today proposed signing of a comprehensive economic treaty with Japan to reduce the existing large trade gap between the two countries and sought enhanced Japanese investment in Bangladesh for mutual benefit.
"I believe that the present state of our bilateral relations calls for conclusion of a 'Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement' between Bangladesh and Japan," she told a luncheon hosted in her honour by Japan-Bangladesh Joint Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) in Tokyo.
Sheikh Hasina added: "I hope you all would pursue the same for furthering our mutual interests, including trade and investment (and) meanwhile, I welcome you all to invest in Bangladesh in sectors like power, infrastructure, IT, renewable energy, transportation, textiles, to name a few".
She said, "Japan's export to Bangladesh is over US$ 1 billion, but Bangladesh's export to Japan is only US $330 million in the current fiscal.
"This needs to be corrected by more Japanese investment and relocation of weaker Japanese industries in Bangladesh," she said adding that Bangladesh's special investment schemes under Public- Private-Partnership (PPP), and Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) could be of interest to Japanese investors.
Sheikh Hasina, who is now in Japan on the last leg of her tri-nation tour, said the Japanese investors could take special interests in major schemes like a state of art international airport, a third seaport, monorail and subways.
She said since Awami League assuming power through December 29, 2008 general elections, Bangladesh's 1.0 economic growth soared to a nearly 6 per cent defying the challenges of global financial crisis, natural disasters and the adverse impact of climate change.
"Our exports rose to US $ 17 billion and our remittances from abroad to US $ 12 billion. Our liberal investment policies are also attracting foreign investments on a scale not seen in the recent past," she said attributing the success largely to the country's macroeconomic stability, with inflation being under control, and the stock market remaining stable.
She also pointed out that Goldman Sachs included Bangladesh in its list of "Next Eleven" emerging economies and J.P. Morgan among its "Frontier Five" acknowledging the country's current "friendly investment climate".
Moreover, she said, it was "indeed very encouraging that JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation) have found Bangladesh as the second best profit making destination for Japanese business in Asia, with 87 percent respondents from your business world expressing readiness to invest in Bangladesh".
JBCCEC Chairman Toshihito Tamba and distinguished business leaders of Japan and Bangladesh were present at the luncheon.
Finance Minister A M A Muhith, Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Prime Minister's Adviser Prof. Dr Alauddin Ahmed and Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Executive Chairman of Board of Investment (BOI) Dr S A Samad, Principal Secretary M A Karim, Foreign Secretary Muhamed Mijarul Quayes, Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and FBCCI President A K Azad joined the lunch.
Sheikh Hasina has also requested Japanese government for relaxation of Rules of Origin to help Bangladeshi exports avail the GSP facilities and reduce the trade gap between the two countries.
She made the request when Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara paid a courtesy call on her at her hotel suite here.
They discussed various issues of bilateral relations and Japanese investment for Bangladesh's socio-economic development, said Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad after the meeting.
The Bangladesh Premier requested the Japanese government to expedite its support for economic development of Bangladesh and encourage Japanese private sector investment in Bangladesh.
Referring to Japanese assistance for Bangladesh's development, she stated that Japanese development efforts have already made positive impacts on the socio-economic progress of the country.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister also mentioned the excellent bilateral relations that exist between the two countries since independence of Bangladesh and recalled with gratitude the Japanese cooperation during the War of Liberation and in rebuilding the war-ravaged country.
The Japanese Foreign Minister pledged his country's continued support for socio-economic development of Bangladesh. He also appreciated Sheikh Hasina for her prudent leadership in different international forums and hoped that Bangladesh would move forward under her able leadership.
Earlier, President of Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation (JITCO) President Shotaro Tochigi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite here.
UNB adds: Sheikh Hasina at a business seminar held today revealed her government's plan to make Bangladesh a regional hub with road, rail, air and water connectivity with all countries in the region.
"Our future plans includes construction of a modern deep-seaport, another seaport in addition to the Chittagong and Mongla ports, and a world class international airport," she said.
The Prime Minister said to facilitate their construction, and building other infrastructures as highways, subways, mono-rail, railroads, power stations, etc., her government has adopted an innovative Public-Private-Partnership Policy. She requested the Japanese investors to participate in these projects.
Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan External Trade
Organization (JETRO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization jointly organized the seminar at Tokyo Kaikan.
Addressing the seminar, Sheikh Hasina said: "Investment in our country today would assuredly return high dividends tomorrow."
She said her government has adopted policies for effective use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), among others, in reaching education, healthcare, and other services to people's homes.
"I believe that the present state of our bilateral relations calls for conclusion of a 'Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement' between Bangladesh and Japan," she told a luncheon hosted in her honour by Japan-Bangladesh Joint Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) in Tokyo.
Sheikh Hasina added: "I hope you all would pursue the same for furthering our mutual interests, including trade and investment (and) meanwhile, I welcome you all to invest in Bangladesh in sectors like power, infrastructure, IT, renewable energy, transportation, textiles, to name a few".
She said, "Japan's export to Bangladesh is over US$ 1 billion, but Bangladesh's export to Japan is only US $330 million in the current fiscal.
"This needs to be corrected by more Japanese investment and relocation of weaker Japanese industries in Bangladesh," she said adding that Bangladesh's special investment schemes under Public- Private-Partnership (PPP), and Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) could be of interest to Japanese investors.
Sheikh Hasina, who is now in Japan on the last leg of her tri-nation tour, said the Japanese investors could take special interests in major schemes like a state of art international airport, a third seaport, monorail and subways.
She said since Awami League assuming power through December 29, 2008 general elections, Bangladesh's 1.0 economic growth soared to a nearly 6 per cent defying the challenges of global financial crisis, natural disasters and the adverse impact of climate change.
"Our exports rose to US $ 17 billion and our remittances from abroad to US $ 12 billion. Our liberal investment policies are also attracting foreign investments on a scale not seen in the recent past," she said attributing the success largely to the country's macroeconomic stability, with inflation being under control, and the stock market remaining stable.
She also pointed out that Goldman Sachs included Bangladesh in its list of "Next Eleven" emerging economies and J.P. Morgan among its "Frontier Five" acknowledging the country's current "friendly investment climate".
Moreover, she said, it was "indeed very encouraging that JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation) have found Bangladesh as the second best profit making destination for Japanese business in Asia, with 87 percent respondents from your business world expressing readiness to invest in Bangladesh".
JBCCEC Chairman Toshihito Tamba and distinguished business leaders of Japan and Bangladesh were present at the luncheon.
Finance Minister A M A Muhith, Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Prime Minister's Adviser Prof. Dr Alauddin Ahmed and Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Executive Chairman of Board of Investment (BOI) Dr S A Samad, Principal Secretary M A Karim, Foreign Secretary Muhamed Mijarul Quayes, Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and FBCCI President A K Azad joined the lunch.
Sheikh Hasina has also requested Japanese government for relaxation of Rules of Origin to help Bangladeshi exports avail the GSP facilities and reduce the trade gap between the two countries.
She made the request when Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara paid a courtesy call on her at her hotel suite here.
They discussed various issues of bilateral relations and Japanese investment for Bangladesh's socio-economic development, said Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad after the meeting.
The Bangladesh Premier requested the Japanese government to expedite its support for economic development of Bangladesh and encourage Japanese private sector investment in Bangladesh.
Referring to Japanese assistance for Bangladesh's development, she stated that Japanese development efforts have already made positive impacts on the socio-economic progress of the country.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister also mentioned the excellent bilateral relations that exist between the two countries since independence of Bangladesh and recalled with gratitude the Japanese cooperation during the War of Liberation and in rebuilding the war-ravaged country.
The Japanese Foreign Minister pledged his country's continued support for socio-economic development of Bangladesh. He also appreciated Sheikh Hasina for her prudent leadership in different international forums and hoped that Bangladesh would move forward under her able leadership.
Earlier, President of Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation (JITCO) President Shotaro Tochigi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite here.
UNB adds: Sheikh Hasina at a business seminar held today revealed her government's plan to make Bangladesh a regional hub with road, rail, air and water connectivity with all countries in the region.
"Our future plans includes construction of a modern deep-seaport, another seaport in addition to the Chittagong and Mongla ports, and a world class international airport," she said.
The Prime Minister said to facilitate their construction, and building other infrastructures as highways, subways, mono-rail, railroads, power stations, etc., her government has adopted an innovative Public-Private-Partnership Policy. She requested the Japanese investors to participate in these projects.
Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan External Trade
Organization (JETRO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization jointly organized the seminar at Tokyo Kaikan.
Addressing the seminar, Sheikh Hasina said: "Investment in our country today would assuredly return high dividends tomorrow."
She said her government has adopted policies for effective use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), among others, in reaching education, healthcare, and other services to people's homes.