Bangladesh and Japan Sign Six Cooperation Documents, Tokyo Pledges About $295.5 Million in Loans for Two Projects
During Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to Japan, Bangladesh and Japan have signed six bilateral cooperation documents. Japan has also pledged loans of about 295.5 million US dollars for two projects.
The signed documents cover cooperation in maritime security, economic relations, agriculture, employment, fisheries and livestock, and climate change, among other fields.
Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin disclosed the achievements of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's Japan visit from 26 to 29 October, undertaken at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Among the documents is a grant agreement of up to 2.12 billion Japanese yen (13.44 million US dollars) to supply a patrol vessel to strengthen Bangladesh's coastal security capability.
In addition, a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) on strengthening economic relations and improving the business environment was signed between Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh's Ministry of Finance.
Two separate memoranda of cooperation were signed between Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Bangladesh's Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
A memorandum of cooperation was also signed on the Employment for Skill Development Programme (ESDP), aimed at creating employment through skills development.
A letter of intent (LoI) was signed between Japan's Ministry of the Environment and Bangladesh's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to strengthen cooperation on climate change.
On loans, Japan pledged 15.88 billion yen (100.8 million US dollars) for a project to improve the investment environment.
It also pledged 30.68 billion yen (194.7 million US dollars) for the second phase of the Upazila Governance and Development Project.
The total loans for the two projects amount to 46.56 billion yen, equal to about 295.5 million US dollars.
These documents, memoranda of cooperation and loan pledges are being seen as among the most important achievements of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's four-day official visit. During the visit, the two countries took initiatives to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including economic development.
During the visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also met Japanese political leaders, business representatives and development partners. Those meetings discussed investment, technology transfer, skills development and expanding economic cooperation.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Japan on Monday (26 October) for the four-day visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. A high-level delegation, including Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir and the chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, accompanied him to Japan.
