Japanese language pathway expands
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday urged Japan to deepen cooperation in human resource development by expanding Japanese language training and recruiting more skilled Bangladeshi workers to meet growing labour demand.
The Prime Minister made the call when Japan’s Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Uno Yoshimasa paid a courtesy call on him at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat, according to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.
The meeting focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between Bangladesh and Japan and taking bilateral relations to a higher level. Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh places high priority on developing a skilled workforce capable of meeting international labour market demands.
He sought greater Japanese cooperation in human resource development and requested Tokyo to recruit more skilled Bangladeshi healthcare workers, agricultural workers and drivers.
The Prime Minister also urged Japan to expand Japanese language training opportunities for Bangladeshi workers to improve their access to employment in the country.
Tarique Rahman encouraged Japanese companies to increase investment in Bangladesh and assured full government support if Japan decides to establish another industrial park similar to the one in Araihazar, Narayanganj.
He also emphasised the importance of closer collaboration to expand bilateral trade and strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
The two sides discussed ways to further enhance trade and investment as part of the growing strategic partnership. The meeting also reviewed the progress of several major infrastructure projects being implemented with Japanese assistance.
These include the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, scheduled to be inaugurated on December 16, and the ongoing Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project.
Those present at the meeting included Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, and the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Overseas Employment for the Asia-Pacific region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan.
The Japanese delegation comprised Assistant Vice Minister for International Aviation at Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Nakayama Rieko, officials of the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi.
Bangladesh and Japan maintain a longstanding strategic partnership spanning trade, investment, infrastructure development and human resource cooperation.
Japan remains one of Bangladesh’s largest development partners, supporting key projects in transport, aviation and industrial development while expanding opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers.
