PM Tarique Rahman to Leave for Japan Tonight on Four-Day Official Visit
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to leave for Japan tonight on a four-day official visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. During the visit, discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure development, technology transfer and skilled workforce development.
The prime minister is scheduled to depart Dhaka for Tokyo on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 12:10am early Monday, October 26, following Sunday night, October 25.
According to the itinerary, Tarique Rahman will hold bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart on Tuesday, October 27. Economic partnership, investment expansion and development cooperation are expected to receive priority during the meeting.
During the visit, the prime minister will deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum. He will also meet Japanese business leaders to discuss increasing Japanese investment in Bangladesh, creating employment opportunities and accelerating development projects.
The prime minister is also scheduled to meet senior officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
In addition, his tentative itinerary includes visits to an LNG terminal, a power plant, Uniqlo’s headquarters and a Toyota factory.
Implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed on February 6, will be a key focus of the visit. The agreement is expected to create opportunities to expand bilateral trade, improve market access and attract investment.
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said memorandums of understanding could be signed, or announcements of cooperation could be made, in agriculture, fisheries, skills development, trade, environmental conservation and the modernisation of local government.
The Rohingya crisis, energy security, and regional and international peace and stability are also expected to feature in the discussions.
