Japan assures to provide US$ 6 billion assistance to Bangladesh

"Our government is working to deliver its commitment to provide Bangladesh with US$ 6 billion and under the arrangement Bangladesh would get US$ 1.5 billion this year," Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe said in an official bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Nagoya.

Sheikh Hasina is now in Japan on a three-day official visit to attend the G7 Outreach Meeting at the invitation of the Japanese premier.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Secretary of the Economic Resources Division (ERD) Meshbah Uddin, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters about the PM's meeting with Abe.

During the talks, they said, Japanese premier assured Sheikh Hasina of conducting a feasibility study on a proposal for constructing a modern airport at Charjanazat on the other side of the Padma Bridge.

Japan also in principle agreed to take accelerated steps for constructing the third terminal of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by 2019, they said.

They said issues of economic cooperation, development and cooperation in global arena came up for discussion. The two countries agreed to take the comprehensive partnership between the two countries to a new height which got shape after Sheikh Hasina's visit to Japan in 2014.

"Japan will continue to support your aspirations to become a middle income country by 2021," the Japanese premier was quoted as telling Sheikh Hasina.

Shinzo Abe assured Sheikh Hasina of further relaxing the rules of origin to promote trade and business between the two countries.

The Japanese premier attached importance to quality infrastructure in Bangladesh and said Matarbari coal-based power plant and Dhaka Metro Rail would be two such projects under that initiative.

"A dedicated railway bridge beside existing Bangabandhu Bridge and development of cross border connectivity and a number of some other proposed projects would be included under the quality infrastructure development initiative," he said.

The Japanese premier highly appreciated the contribution of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to G7 Summit that concluded in Nagoya yesterday.

"Your intervention and contribution helped the G7 leaders to lead the discussion which ultimately helped us in our key components of the outcome elements," Abe told Sheikh Hasina.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister sought Japan's support to develop a knowledge-based economy, nano technology and blue economy. Japan agreed to extend support to this areas, they said.

Sheikh Hasina thanked the Japanese Prime Minister for relaxing some rules of origin with regards to knit export which led to increase export to Japan from Bangladesh.

The Foreign Secretary said the meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Shinzo was held in a very warm and cordial environment and was fruitful. "The outcome of the meeting is beyond expectation," he said.

Shahidul Haque said the two leaders also discussed the progress of the Big-B project in Chittagong and prospective Japanese support to implement the mega project.

In the meeting, the Japanese Prime Minister asked JICA officials to explore a proposal made by Sheikh Hasina for trade creating investment of Japan with buy back arrangement.

The foreign secretary said Sheikh Hasina proposed some new areas before Abe for his country's large scale support including energy efficiency, nano technology and skill development.

According to a decision taken in the meeting, diplomatic passport holders would get on arrival visa.

The two premiers agreed to work together on various international issues and in the discourse for reformation of the United Nations.