Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed a joint technology park with Japan as the two governments discussed investment, jobs and closer economic ties at a Tokyo summit Tuesday.
Rahman identified artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics and electronics manufacturing as priority areas for the proposed facility. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not say the government had agreed to build or co-sponsor the park.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi projected up to 1 trillion yen in private investment by Japanese businesses in Bangladesh over the next five years, with 200,000 jobs expected. The figures are projections, not a confirmed investment commitment. Takaichi said she expected Rahman’s leadership to help create conditions conducive to Japanese business activity.
Japan also intends to send a business mission to Bangladesh in the near future, Takaichi said. The two governments agreed to work toward bringing their Economic Partnership Agreement into force early; the ministry gave no date for that step.
The leaders met for about 25 minutes and issued a joint statement afterward, the ministry said. The summit took place during Rahman’s Oct. 26-29 official visit to Japan. Rahman said Japan was among the first countries to recognize Bangladesh’s independence, according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
