Japan likely to support Bangladesh with $500M budgetary aid, $250M for rail
NN Online:
Bangladesh is expecting $750 million in financial support from Japan — including $500 million in budgetary aid and $250 million for railway development — as part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral ties, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced on Tuesday.
The announcement comes ahead of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s four-day official visit to Japan, where he will attend the 30th Nikkei Forum Future of Asia and hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on May 30.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, Alam emphasized the significance of the visit. “It’s a very important trip for advancing economic cooperation and strategic relations,” he said. Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Ahammad Foyez also attended the briefing.
Bangladesh has formally sought $1 billion in soft loans from Japan. A final announcement and note exchange are expected following the leaders’ talks in Tokyo.
The Chief Adviser is also prioritising the export of skilled Bangladeshi manpower to Japan. “We aim to send 100,000 trained workers with language and technical skills,” Alam said, noting that the government is fast-tracking relevant training programmes.
Two major seminars are scheduled during the visit — one on investment, co-hosted by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and another on skilled labor, organised by the Bangladesh side. Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed.
Development of the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI) will be a key agenda during the visit. At a high-level meeting in Dhaka on Monday, Professor Yunus reviewed progress on MIDI and reiterated his vision of transforming the coastal region into Bangladesh’s largest hub for ports, logistics, energy, and manufacturing.
“To realise this vision, attracting major foreign investment is crucial. A comprehensive master plan is needed,” he said.
The upcoming trip marks Professor Yunus’s first visit to Japan as Chief Adviser. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the visit, recalling his past trips to Japan, including for the 2004 Nikkei Asia Prize and a 2007 government-led opinion leaders’ program.
Professor Yunus is scheduled to arrive at Narita International Airport at 2:30 PM (Tokyo time) on Wednesday and return to Dhaka on Saturday.
Acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique said the bilateral meeting will cover a broad range of strategic issues — including trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, and human resource development. The Rohingya refugee crisis is also expected to feature in the discussions.
The Chief Adviser will be received with a red carpet welcome and a guard of honour ahead of his talks with Prime Minister Ishiba.
