Industries minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has urged Japan to take initiative to manufacture automobiles in Bangladesh.
He made this call during a courtesy call on Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi at the Industries Minister's office in Motijheel of the capital on Monday.
In the meeting, the industries minister referred to the historical friendly relations between Bangladesh and Japan and said that Japan is a long-standing development partner and sincere friend of Bangladesh. Japan is making an important contribution to the socio-economic development and industrialization of Bangladesh, he said.
He also emphasized on working on the basis of mutual cooperation on issues related to common interests.
In the meeting, the industries minister urged the Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation under the Industries Ministry to take initiative to manufacture automobiles in Bangladesh in light of the memorandum of understanding with Japanese industrial companies Mitsubishi and Toyota.
In response, the ambassador said that work is underway in this regard.
The Japanese ambassador said, “We have a long-standing friendly relationship with Bangladesh. This trend will continue in the future. Just as we have been by your side in the past for the economic development of Bangladesh, we will be by your side in the future for the development of Bangladesh.”
He welcomed Bangladesh's proposal to set up ship recycling facilities, i.e. Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) in Sitakunda, of Chattogram and said, “We will soon examine the feasibility of this and take action to implement it.”
Industries secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman, additional secretary Md. Nuruzzaman, joint secretary Sahela Akhter, first secretary Karasawa Shinju, head of the Economic Relations Division of the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka, and first secretary Sukao Daisuke, first secretary of the Economic Division, were present at the time.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
