ZCZC
BSS-52
BANGLADESH-JAPAN
Naoki reiterates Japan’s commitment to support Bangladesh
DHAKA, April 1, 2021 (BSS) – Ito Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to
Bangladesh, has reiterated Japan’s commitment to support Bangladesh in
achieving its development goals.
Naoki expressed such notion in a virtual meeting with Fatima Yasmin,
Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) yesterday.
In response, the ERD Secretary acknowledged Japan’s continued
support that has increased consistently over time and also for the
commitment for future assistance, said a press release today.
They also exchanged views on the future economic cooperation under
Japanese Overseas Development Assistance or Yen Loan Program.
The release said ERD has recently requested Japanese Government to
include six projects to their 42nd Yen Loan package for the Japanese
financial year 2021 (April 2020 – March 2021).
These projects are: 1) Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Line 1 (2nd
Tranche), 2) Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Line 6 (5th Tranche), 3)
Matarbari Coal Fired Power Project (6th Tranche), 4) Matarbari Coal
Fired Power Project, 2nd Phase, 5) Southern Chattogram Regional
Development Project and 6) Health Sector Development Policy Loan.
Among those, Southern Chattogram Regional Development Project and
Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Projects will serve to
promote the Initiative of The Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt
(BIG-B).
The BIG-B initiative is to accelerate industrial agglomeration along
the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar belt area and beyond, encompassing
developing economic infrastructure, improving investment environment
and fostering connectivity.
Due to the adverse impacts on the human life and livelihood caused
by the COVID-19 pandemic, ERD also requested for budget support loan
to deal with the raging COVID-19.
The extent of cooperation and strong partnership between the two
countries have further deepened after the visits of the Prime Minister
of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to Japan and the then Prime Minister of
Japan Shinzo Abe to Bangladesh in 2014.
The Government of Japan committed JPY 373,247 Million (Three Seventy
Three Thousand and Two Hundred Forty Seven) Million Japanese Yen (US$
3,393 Million) loan to Government of Bangladesh in their Fiscal Year
2020 (April 2020 – March 2021).
The total loan includes project loans and financial assistance for
COVID-19 recovery measures. This made Bangladesh the highest Japanese
loan commitment recipient in Japan’s FY 2020.
BSS/PR/GM/MRU/2043hrs