Tokyo, Oct. 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told her Bangladeshi counterpart, Tarique Rahman, on Tuesday that Japanese companies’ investment in Bangladesh is expected to reach 1 trillion yen over the next five years. At their meeting at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Takaichi also said Japan would provide a patrol vessel to help strengthen Bangladesh’s coast guard capabilities through security-related official development assistance. The two leaders issued a joint statement after the meeting, pledging to upgrade the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt, an economic development initiative centered on southern Bangladesh. The statement also included plans to provide yen loans to improve the country’s investment climate. The Bay of Bengal lies along Japan’s sea-lanes, vital maritime shipping routes. Takaichi said she looked forward to further developing the countries’ strategic partnership and contributing to regional peace and prosperity. In response, Rahman said that he wanted to take bilateral relations to new heights. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
