Japan pledges to continue supporting Bangladesh

Japan will support Bangladesh's reform agenda, and its investors will continue to stay in Bangladesh to help boost the country's economic developments, outgoing Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori said today (11 December).

Ambassador Kiminori praised the leadership of Professor Yunus during his farewell call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

He also said his government would cement ties with Bangladesh in three pillars of Japanese engagements, which include peace and stability, economic cooperation, and human-to-human interactions.

"We'll do our best to support the three pillars," Kiminori said, reiterating Tokyo's "strong support" for the reform initiatives undertaken by the Interim Government in areas including elections.

Professor Yunus thanked the outgoing ambassador for their contribution to the Bangladesh-Japan relationship. He also lauded the ties between the two countries.

"The relationship has always been very strong," the Chief Adviser said.

He called for more Japanese investment in Bangladesh as his government was carrying out vital reforms to attract more foreign direct investment in the country.

"The presence of Japanese investors in Bangladesh sends a good message for us," he said.

The Japanese envoy said, "Not a single Japanese company has withdrawn" from Bangladesh after the Jully-August mass uprising. 

"They are willing to stay in the country," he said.

He extended an invitation from Nikkei to an annual conference in Japan where the Japanese Prime Minister is expected to speak.

He said the Chief Adviser could meet chief executives of top Japanese companies during the meeting and invite them to invest in Bangladesh.

The Japanese ambassador also appreciated the Chief Adviser's move to hold an international conference on the Rohingya issues, saying Tokyo strongly supports the meeting.

The Chief Adviser reiterated his call to create a UN-guaranteed safe zone in Myanmar's western Rakhine state where the displaced communities can temporarily be relocated before they return to their homes once the conflict is over.

Lamiya Morshed, the principal coordinator on SDG Affairs and a senior secretary of the government, was also present during the meeting.