PM urges Japanese entrepreneurs to explore Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the Japanese businessmen to explore new areas of investment in export oriented sectors in Bangladesh by exploiting full potential of business and trade relations between the two countries.

“We would, however, like to see diversification in our export basket. I would call upon you (Japanese business people) to explore new areas of investment in export oriented sectors in Bangladesh,” she told a Bangladesh-Japan Business Forum roundtable with CEOs of Japanese enterprises being the participants at a city hotel this morning.

The premier expressed her desire to elevate the business relations between the two countries and people to people contact to a higher level by utilizing the business and trade relations between Japan and Bangladesh.

Describing Bangladesh as the fastest emerging country for its highly competitive location for investments in terms of cost, human resources, size of domestic market, access to international markets, trade facilitation and investment protection, the premier sought more Japanese investment in Bangladesh.

“We welcomed the investment of 1.4 billion dollars made by Japan Tobacco last year in Bangladesh. We wish to see more such investment from Japan,” she continued.

Mentioning the private sector as the main engine of Bangladesh’s economy, she said, “We attach top priority to entrepreneurship development and private investments, both domestic and foreign.”

Terming Japan as top export destination for Bangladesh in Asia, the premier said that the Japanese companies are showing interest to do businesses in Bangladesh and these companies are also involved in various infrastructure development projects besides the trade.

In this context, she said, “We are establishing 100 Special Economic Zones throughout the country, including one exclusively for Japanese investors at Araihazar.”

She added: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpanagar in Chattogram has plenty of land for establishment of Economic Zones under G2G basis and Public Private Partnership model.

“We have also taken Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI) for Logistic hub, Power and Energy hub and Water front Industry hub. Japan may support these initiatives,” she continued.

Source: bss