Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Hiroyasu Izumi said Japanese investors are keen to invest in Bangladesh.
"Honda's decision to set up an assembly plant near Dhaka is an epoch-making development and it jacked the confidence of other Japanese companies up to invest in Bangladesh," the Japanese Ambassador said while addressing the 13th annual general meeting (AGM) of Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) held recently in the city.
"The year 2017 is the 45th anniversary of establishment of our bilateral relations. Delightfully, I see more and more Japanese companies have considered investment in Bangladesh and I see next year many Japanese companies will invest here," he said.
"To further strengthen this momentum, I will work actively with the Government of Bangladesh for facilitating better investment-friendly environment here," he said adding the last Public Private Economic Dialogue in Tokyo was very successful.
The JBCCI president Salahuddin Kasem Khan thanked the Japanese ambassador and presented him a 'crest of gratitude'.
A total of 75 members of JBCCI attended the AGM, conducted by its secretary general Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan.
According to a recent Power Division statement, Japanese firms have expressed interest to invest in Bangladesh under public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.
A memorandum of understanding has already been signed between the two countries which will allow Japanese companies to get work orders without participating in any bidding.
Japan has been providing nearly $2 billion in soft loans every year to Bangladesh since 2012-13.
Tokyo will also invest under the new arrangement, and Japanese banks will help with financing, said PPA Authority officials.
According to the Power Division statement, a total of 16 projects of the power, energy and mineral resources ministry are now being implemented with financing from Japan.
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