Japan expresses interest in free trade agreement with Bangladesh

News Desk: After Bangladesh became a middle-income country, Japan wants to continue the ongoing trade facilities. For this, a joint working committee could be formed to implement the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and to increase trade and investment between the two countries.

Ito Naoki, Japan's ambassador to Dhaka, expressed interest in participating in a dialogue titled "Bangladesh-Japan Partnership for the Next Development Journey" organized by the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the Westin Hotel in the capital on Wednesday (March 16th).

Ito Naoki said Japan has been on Bangladesh's side since independence. Japan is the largest development partner of Bangladesh. The FTA is keen to continue this cooperation. A working committee will be formed with representatives of the two countries. Meanwhile, Japan has taken initiative to increase trade and investment with Bangladesh. Japan is thinking of continuing the trade benefits given to Bangladesh even after leaving the LDC.

MA Mannan said, Japan is one of the friendly countries of Bangladesh. The government has always given high status to Japan. Japan is the largest economic power in Asia. We want to use it. Once a Prime Minister of Japan visited Bangladesh and saw the Shitalakshya river. He was troubled to see a narrow bridge over the Shitalakshya river. He then instructed to build a wide bridge for the winter.

Regarding the FTA agreement, the minister said that no one is interested in signing the FTA agreement with Bangladesh. However, Japan itself has expressed interest in the FTA. Bangladesh wants to take advantage of this opportunity.

CPD executive director. CPD Chairman Prof. Rehman Sobhan and others took part in the dialogue under the chairmanship of Fahmida Khatun.

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