Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday outlined his government’s initiatives, including legal reforms, to create a business-friendly environment for foreign investors and highlighted measures to promote education and skills development during a meeting with a high-level Japanese parliamentary delegation in Tokyo.
The delegation of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL), led by its president and former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, met the prime minister at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 3:00pm local time.
Both sides stressed the importance of further strengthening political and economic relations, alongside people-to-people exchanges between Bangladesh and Japan.
During the meeting, Tarique Rahman said his government had undertaken several initiatives, including legal reforms, to improve the investment climate and attract foreign investors. He also highlighted government measures to advance education and skills development.
Against the backdrop of the proposed Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the prime minister sought Aso’s cooperation in boosting Japanese investment in Bangladesh, expanding bilateral trade and strengthening technology transfer.
He also expressed hope that Japan would continue supporting Bangladesh’s development priorities and efforts to build a skilled workforce.
Tarique Recalls Earlier Meeting with Aso
The prime minister thanked Aso for his continued contribution to strengthening friendly relations between the two countries through his leadership of the parliamentary friendship league.
Tarique Rahman recalled meeting Aso during his visit to Japan in 2006, when he was the senior joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The former Japanese prime minister, in turn, recalled his meeting with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
Tarique said Aso had played a positive and constructive role in advancing bilateral relations while serving in several key positions, including as Japan’s prime minister, deputy prime minister and finance minister.
He added that Aso’s longstanding personal engagement with Bangladesh had contributed significantly to strengthening the friendship between the two countries.
Japanese Companies Interested in Bangladesh
Speaking about Bangladesh’s investment prospects, Aso said the country’s large young population and prevailing political stability had created a favourable environment for investment.
He also noted that Japanese companies were showing considerable interest in investing in Bangladesh.
The meeting comes as Bangladesh seeks to deepen its economic partnership with Japan through increased investment, trade expansion, technology transfer and industrial development.
Ministers Attend Meeting
Among those present at the meeting were Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit.
Also present were Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Overseas Employment in the Asia-Pacific region Md. Shakhawat Hossen Rubel, and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.
The Japanese delegation included former minister and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chairman Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tatsunori Ibayashi, and senior members of the Japanese parliament.
Sun News/ rabbi
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