PM seeks more Japanese investments

FE Team | Published: August 22, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday sought more Japanese investment to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021, reports UNB.
"We've already fixed our target of building Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021. So, we need more support and assistance from Japan to achieve this goal," she said.
Hasina also said that the people of Bangladesh are eagerly waiting to welcome the Japanese Prime Minister who is scheduled to visit Bangladesh next month along with a delegation. She hoped to have good discussions during the talks.
The PM made the remarks when a four-member delegation attending the Joint Bangladesh-Japan Public-Private Economic Dialogue here made a courtesy call on her at her office Thursday morning.
Japanese Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Norihiko Ishiguro led the Japanese team.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister and the Japanese Vice Minister discussed issues relating to mutual interests including trade and investment.
Mentioning that a congenial investment-friendly environment now exists in the country, Hasina said: "The Japanese entrepreneurs could explore the opportunities by investing in a bigger way in Bangladesh."
In this connection, she said that her government has allocated land for the Japanese investors in export processing zones (EPZs).
The Prime Minister also remembered her recent official visit to Japan in May this year and holding the Summit Talks with Japanese premier Shinzo Abe.
The Japanese vice minister mentioned that Japanese investment in Bangladesh has increased 15 times during the period from 2009 to 2011.
He said the Japanese entrepreneurs may invest in the sectors that are affected by the climate change.
About the setting up of the ultra supercritical coal-fired power plant at Matarbari in Cox's Bazar with Japanese assistance, the Vice Minister mentioned that the technology that would be used in the power plant would be most modern and dependable.
PM's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Dr Gowher Rizvi, Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, PMO Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury, and Japanese Ambassador Shiro Shadoshima were present during the meeting.