PM Seeks Japan's Cooperation to Build a Technology and Innovation City at Tokyo Meeting With JICA President

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought Japan's cooperation to establish a 'technology and innovation city' in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has also proposed expanding cooperation in skills development, modernisation of agriculture, agro-product processing and the light engineering industry.

The proposals were raised at the Prime Minister's meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Tanaka Akihiko at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 5:10pm Japan local time on Monday (26 October). The Prime Minister's deputy press secretary Shahadat Swadhin briefed on the meeting.

He said the meeting proposed building a Bangladesh-Japan skills development partnership and establishing a technology and innovation city in the country. Expanding cooperation in agriculture modernisation, agro-product processing and the light engineering industry was also discussed.

Considering Bangladesh's current development priorities, emphasis was placed on continuing concessional loan assistance from Japan and expanding technical cooperation. In view of the global energy situation, a request was also made for budget support, as last year, to meet the country's energy demand and ensure energy security.

The Prime Minister said Japan's cooperation continues to play an important role in the country's infrastructure development, socio-economic progress and realisation of development aspirations. He stressed continuing cooperation with Japan to deepen the two countries' long-standing friendly relations and improve Bangladesh's development and people's living standards.

The meeting discussed completing the large development projects under way with Japanese assistance within the scheduled time. Emphasis was also placed on expediting the approval and implementation of priority projects awaiting approval.

The Prime Minister recalled the fruitful meeting held in Dhaka in July 2026 during the JICA President's visit to Bangladesh. He expressed gratitude for Japan's long-standing cooperation and JICA's important contribution to Bangladesh's socio-economic development.

The JICA President reaffirmed his commitment to work together for Bangladesh's prosperity. The Prime Minister expressed hope that these initiatives would further strengthen the Bangladesh-Japan strategic partnership and play an important role in achieving common prosperity for both countries.

Present for Bangladesh at the meeting were Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, the Prime Minister's finance and planning adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit, the Prime Minister's posts, telecommunications and ICT and science and technology adviser Rehan Asif Asad, the Prime Minister's special assistant for foreign employment in the Asia-Pacific region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Economic Relations Division Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiqui and the Prime Minister's additional press secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.

Senior JICA vice president Hara Shohei and other senior officials of the agency were also present at the meeting.