Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Japan will provide US$ 1.18 billion overseas development assistance (ODA) for Bangladesh for development of power and gas sector as well as infrastructure of the city corporations and capacity building of the government officials.
Visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said this during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Gonobhaban residence in the capital Dhaka on Saturday evening.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil said the prime minister sought more Japanese investment in Bangladesh. "In case of enhancement of investment, Bangladesh will provide land for establishment of an export processing zone for Japanese investors," she said.
Sheikh Hasina expressed satisfaction over the excellent bilateral relations between Dhaka and Tokyo and said her government is determined to strengthen the ties further.
Kishido assured the prime minister of taking steps to boost trade and commerce between the two countries.
He handed over a letter of greetings from her Japanese prime minister to Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of Bangladesh's 44th Independence Day. He also handed over some photographs of Bangabandhu taken during his visit to Japan in 1973.
The prime minister recalled that the visit of Bangabandhu to Japan established the relations between the two countries which have been consolidated gradually over the years.
She also recalled Japan's contribution to Bangladesh's War of Liberation, post-war reconstruction and two tenures of her government from 1996-2001 and 2009-2013.
Sheikh Hasina particularly mentioned construction of the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna River and five-star Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel with Japanese fund.
Expressing his government's firm desire to strengthen bilateral ties with Bangladesh, the Japanese foreign minister said more than 100 Japanese companies are working in Bangladesh in various sectors. He praised Bangladesh's success in maintaining over six percent economic growth despite global economic recession over the years, saying, more Japanese companies are interested to invest in Bangladesh.
The Japanese foreign minister praised contributions of Bangladesh's peacekeepers to UN missions and said contingents of Bangladesh and Japan are jointly working in South Sudan.
Kishida conveyed an invitation of the Japanese Premier to Sheikh Hasina to visit Japan. Accepting the invitation, Sheikh Hasina said she will make the visit at a convenient time. She also reciprocated the invitation for her Japanese counterpart.
Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, Ambassador-at-large M Ziauddin and PM's Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder were present.
BBN/SSR/AD-23Mar14-12:23 am (BST)