Photo: Collected
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has held a courtesy meeting with Marubeni Corporation Chairman Masumi Kakinoki. Kakinoki also serves as chairman of the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC). The two met at 3:45pm local time in Japan on Monday (26 October).
At the meeting, the prime minister praised the leadership Kakinoki has provided in advancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. He also thanked him, as Marubeni’s chairman, for his role in increasing Japanese investment in Bangladesh and developing business ties between the two nations.
The prime minister stressed further strengthening the Bangladesh-Japan economic partnership. For his part, Kakinoki expressed hope that if the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is implemented properly, bilateral trade will grow, Japanese investment will increase and new business opportunities will be created.
The prime minister called for greater Japanese investment in promising sectors such as information and communication technology (ICT), renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. In his words, there are major opportunities for investment in these sectors through foreign direct investment (FDI) and public-private partnerships (PPP). He also sought Japan’s cooperation in modernising Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) and in examining whether another fertiliser factory could be set up in the country.
The prime minister said the government is committed to ensuring an investment-friendly environment. Work is under way on regulatory reforms, simplifying investment approvals and strengthening public-private partnerships to further expand investment and business opportunities in Bangladesh for Japanese businesspeople.
Present at the meeting were Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant (on overseas employment in the Asia-Pacific region) Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostakur Rahman and the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.
Earlier, on 11 October, a delegation led by Marubeni President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Masayuki Omoto met Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka. That meeting discussed Bangladesh’s cooperation with Marubeni in information technology, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, fertiliser and energy, and increasing Japanese investment in the country.
Background
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is visiting Japan from 26 to 29 October at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Jugantor reported on 21 October that preparations were under way to sign eight memoranda of understanding between the two countries during the visit.
According to a 21 October report by Desh Rupantor, a meeting with the chairman of the ‘Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation’ had been included in the prime minister’s draft itinerary.
