Japan vows support to BD in becoming high income country

Staff Correspondent: Visiting Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Nishimura Yasutoshi yesterday vowed that Tokyo would extend its full cooperation to Bangladesh in her endeavor to become a high income country by 2041.
He made the pledge at a bilateral meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at the State Guest House Jamuna in the capital, a foreign ministry press release said here.
During the meeting, Bangladesh state minister reiterated the commitment of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to make Bangladesh as a high income country by 2041. He briefed on the development achievements carried out by the government in last one-and-a-half decade.
Alam referred to the ongoing mega projects of Bangladesh-Japan collaboration and stressed on the need of such joint ventures to materialize Bangladesh’s vision of becoming a smart and developed country.
The state minister invited more Japanese investment including that in the sectors of infrastructural development, ICT, human resources development and renewable energy.
He approached to keep up the existing preferential treatment to Bangladesh following her complete graduation to a middle income country.
Japanese Minister Nishimura informed that Japan is currently studying the preferential treatment that can be accorded to Bangladesh upon her graduation to a middle income country.
An Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in this regard would help, he added.
He referred to the ‘Strategic Partnership’ of diplomatic relations jointly declared by two Prime Ministers during the Japan visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in April 2023. He expressed his satisfaction on the mega projects carried out in association with Japan. He praised Bangladesh’s youth and energetic population as well as the strategic location between the South and the South East Asia.
Bangladesh State Minister thanked Minister Nishimura for Japan’s continuous support towards the development and progress in Bangladesh.
Nishimura arrived here on Sunday on a two-day official visit.