Bangladesh and Japan will resume joint public-private economic dialogue in Tokyo 20 months after the first dialogue aiming to explore avenues for further improvement of investment climate and cooperation in line with the 'comprehensive partnership'.
The first Bangladesh-Japan public-private economic dialogue was held on August 21, 2014 in Dhaka where a policy level forum of public and private sectors was formed under the partnership.
The prime ministers of Bangladesh and Japan declared the comprehensive partnership in joint statements signed during their visits in June and September of that year.
Officials said since the first dialogue was held, efforts have been on to improve investment scenario in the country by developing necessary infrastructures and providing different facilities for Japanese investors.
They said this year the forum is expected to discuss various issues aiming to strengthen cooperation to be needed for further improvement of investment climate scenario.
Sources said Bangladesh is likely to seek cooperation of Japanese public and private sectors in infrastructure development like rail, road, bridge, energy and water resources.
Issues relating to technology transfer and capacity building through partnership and investment may also come up at the dialogue for discussion.
"This year the forum will also try to find a follow-up mechanism on dialogue outcome," said an official involved with organising the event.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) will organise the 2nd Bangladesh-Japan public-private economic dialogue to be held in Tokyo on April 15.
Board of Investment (BoI) is also organising two investment seminars in Osaka and Tokyo in line with the dialogue to establish a network between public and private sectors of the two countries.
Energy Adviser to the Prime Minister Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury will lead the 22-member official delegation of Bangladesh in the dialogue. High officials from the PMO, Foreign Ministry, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, National Board of Revenue and apex business bodies will, among others, be the delegation members.
Besides, 45 members from different chambers and government offices will attend the BoI's investment seminars to be held on April 13 in Osaka and April 15 in Tokyo after the dialogue.
Nearly 80 delegation members from Bangladesh and Japan took part in the first public-private economic dialogue and exchanged views on a wide range of areas of mutual economic interest, including development of infrastructure and industrial base in export processing zones and special economic zones (SEZ) for Japan.
In the meeting, the Japanese side also sought Bangladesh's cooperation on "some of operational issues" which included simplification of procedures related to certification, licensing approval, issuance of visa and work permit to improve investment and business scenario. The Bangladesh side has already taken some measures in this regard.
Sources said following the dialogue, feasibility study to find suitable sites for SEZ for Japanese investors has begun and financial assistances were provided for developing necessary infrastructures in different sectors including export processing zones.
Under the 36th Official Development Assistance (ODA), Japan has already provided largest-ever financial support to Bangladesh in a year amounting to Tk 87 billion for health, urban safety, transportation, governance, electric power and investment climate.
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