PM Tarique Rahman Meets Marubeni Corporation Chairman to Boost Japan-Bangladesh Economic Ties
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a courtesy meeting with Masumi Kakinoki, chairman of Marubeni Corporation and president of the Japan-Bangladesh Joint Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee.
The meeting took place at 12:45pm Bangladesh time on Monday (October 26).
During the meeting, the prime minister praised Kakinoki’s leadership in strengthening trade and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan. He also thanked him for his role in expanding Japanese investment in Bangladesh and improving business relations between the two countries as chairman of Marubeni Corporation.
Tarique Rahman emphasised the need to further strengthen the economic partnership between Bangladesh and Japan. Kakinoki expressed hope that effective implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries would help expand bilateral trade, increase Japanese investment and create new business opportunities.
The prime minister called for increased Japanese investment in promising sectors of Bangladesh, including information and communication technology (ICT), renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. He said significant investment opportunities existed in these sectors through foreign direct investment (FDI) and public-private partnerships.
During the meeting, the prime minister also stressed the importance of Japanese cooperation in modernising the Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO) and exploring the possibility of establishing a second fertiliser factory in the country.
He said the Bangladesh government was committed to ensuring an investment-friendly environment. To this end, the government was working to expand opportunities for Japanese businesses by pursuing regulatory reforms, simplifying investment approval procedures and strengthening public-private partnerships.
Those present at the meeting included Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat; Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir; State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir; State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit; Prime Minister’s Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad; Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Foreign Employment in the Asia-Pacific region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan; Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostakur Rahman; and Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atikur Rahman Rumon.
Earlier, on October 11, a delegation led by Marubeni Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Masayuki Omoto met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka. At the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office, discussions focused on cooperation between Marubeni Corporation and Bangladesh in information technology, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, fertiliser and energy, as well as expanding Japanese investment in the country.
