While looking back on the cooperation with JICA so far, speakers at a seminar in Tokyo on Friday explored ways to further strengthen the partnership with Bangladesh in the future.

They said reaching 50th year of JICA’s cooperation with Bangladesh is a significant milestone.

The seminar was organized by the Embassy of Bangladesh, Tokyo at the Bangabandhu conference hall in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The title of the seminar was ‘JICA with Bangladesh: Reaching 50th Year and Way Forward’.

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Fatima Yasmin, Secretary of Economic Relations Division inaugurated the event through video message while Mari Akiyama, Director spoke on behalf of Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The keynote speech was delivered by Junichi Yamada, Senior Executive Vice President, JICA.

Members of the public sector, industry, academia and civil society participated at the interactive panel discussion.

Theme of the panel was ‘Expectations pertaining to JICA’s future cooperation with Bangladesh’.

Shahabuddin Ahmed, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan delivered the concluding remarks.

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Over the years JICA has been the single largest bilateral development partner of Bangladesh.

The dream of Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ or ‘Golden Bengal’ is being realized by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo.

Since her visit to Japan in 2014, when the relationship between Bangladesh and Japan was upgraded to ‘Comprehensive Partnership’, the financial and technical assistance of JICA has been significantly increased. Especially under the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) initiative, JICA’s support in infrastructure, transportation, power, and energy sectors is complementing Government’s endeavours.

JICA also continues to cooperate in social sectors, such as health, agriculture, and disaster management.

On the occasion of reaching the milestone of 50th year of cooperation between JICA and Bangladesh, the speakers at the seminar expected the collaboration to grow stronger and diversified in the next 50 years.

They suggested continuous dialogue as a mechanism for effective, efficient, and sustainable implementation of projects and programs.

The seminar was moderated by Syed Nasir Ershad, Economic Minister of the Mission.