Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi today said his country would extend full cooperation to Bangladesh in its endeavor to become a high income country by 2041.

The Japanese minister discussed areas of cooperation with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

Earlier, the Japanese minister for economy and trade took a ride on Dhaka's metro rail.

Also read: Japanese Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi  in Dhaka

State Minister Alam accompanied him.

Nishimura Yasutoshi arrived in Dhaka on July 23 on a two-day official visit.

This is the first time that a Japanese minister for economy, trade and industry is visiting Bangladesh.

Yasutoshi referred to the ‘Strategic Partnership’ of diplomatic relations jointly declared by the prime ministers of both countries during PM Sheikh Hasina’s Japan visit in April this year.

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He expressed satisfaction on the mega projects carried out in association with Japan.

He praised Bangladesh’s young and energetic population as well as the country’s strategic location between South and Southeast Asia.

State Minister Alam reiterated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to turn Bangladesh into a high income country by 2041.

He briefed the Japanese minister on the development achievements carried out by the government in the last one-and-a-half decade. He referred to the ongoing mega projects under Bangladesh-Japan collaboration and stressed the need of such joint ventures to materialize Bangladesh’s vision of becoming a smart and developed country.

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He invited more Japanese investment including that in the sectors of infrastructural development, ICT, human resources development and renewable energy.

He called for continuing the existing preferential treatment to Bangladesh following the graduation to a middle income country.

Minister Yasutoshi informed the Bangladesh state minister for foreign affairs that Japan is currently studying the preferential treatment that can be accorded to Bangladesh upon its graduation to a middle income country.

An Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in this regard would help, he added.

State Minister Alam thanked Minister Yasutoshi for Japan’s continued support towards the development and progress in Bangladesh.

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They rode the metro rail together from Uttara North Station and returned to the same station after crossing few metro stations upto Pallabi.

They also visited the Metro Rail Exhibition and Information Centre and paid tributes to the victims of Holey Artisan incident at the Memorial there.

The Japanese Minister was very happy to ride the metro and expressed his satisfaction over ongoing construction work of the airport third terminal.