Time now to start work for inviting investment in BD

Japanese Ambassador Shiro Sadoshima has said time has come to start work for inviting Japanese investment in Bangladesh as much groundwork has already been done.

He said Japan is serious about making difference this time particularly to improve the investment environment for Japanese companies in Bangladesh.

The Japanese envoy talked to the FE on the sidelines of the Bangladesh-Japan Business Forum held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel Saturday.

Also designated Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Shiro said top executives of many Japanese companies have come to Bangladesh following dialogues taken place during the last few months.

"Next step is now to make real change on the ground. So far talks…done or being done very well. Next is now DO," Shiro Sadoshima said during the on-the-spot interview.

Following the joint statement signed between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Japan during the Bangladesh Prime Minister's visit to Japan on May 25-28 last, a good number of dialogues including those between private and public sectors of both the countries were held as groundwork of holding Bangladesh-Japan Business Forum.

The first Bangladesh-Japan Public-Private Economic Dialogue also started to work on identifying obstacles to the investment environment in Bangladesh and taking measures for recovering those prior to the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to Bangladesh.

Some 50 business delegations including chief executive officers and presidents of renowned Japanese companies came to Bangladesh as the entourage members of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and have shown interest to invest in various sectors including health, food processing, and building construction.