Japan reaffirms to take ties with BD to new height
Staff Correspondent
Voicing satisfaction over the growing ties with Bangladesh, Japan has reiterated its commitment to take the relationship to a new height.
At the request of the Japanese side, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam held a meeting with the Vice Foreign Minister of Japan Kazuyuki Nakane in Male on Monday on the sidelines of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Independence of Maldives.
During the meeting, the Japanese Vice Foreign Minister observed that the two countries have already started reaping the benefits of it, and the First Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries held in Dhaka on February 5, 2015 was a demonstration of such elevated relationship, said a Foreign Ministry press release here on Tuesday.
The Vice Minister mentioned that the government of Japan remained firmly involved in implementing the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt or BIG-B initiatives taken between the two countries during the successful return visit to Bangladesh by the Japanese Prime Minster Sinzo Abe in September 2014.
He also applauded the present governments efforts in combating terrorism and extremism.
Shahriar Alam thanked the Japanese government for further relaxation of the rules of origin for Bangladesh knitwear products export to Japan.
He mentioned that Bangladesh offered high quality and competitive prices in jute products, handicrafts, garments, ceramics, leather products, pharmaceuticals and IT products for Japanese importers.
He also expressed sincere thanks for continued Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) and for Japanese Yen 600 billion to ensure robust economic progress.
While congratulating Japan on winning the bid for hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, Shahriar Alam appreciated Japans invitation for Bangladesh construction workers to participate in the Foreign Construction Worker Acceptance Program for 2020 Olympic and Paralympics, and for the reconstruction works in the Great East tsunami devastated area under Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP).
He also requested the Japanese government to consider recruiting skilled construction workers from Bangladesh without the requirement of participation in the TITP.
Alam also underscored that Bangladeshs IT potential was excellent and Japan might consider Bangladesh as an attractive place for outsourcing IT enabled services.
In this regard, he also requested for possible Japanese investments in Bangladesh IT industry.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Maldives Rear Admiral Kazi Sarwar Hossain and high commission officials accompanied the State Minister during the official meetings.unb
