Bangladesh and Japan have signed six instruments and pledged two loan projects during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s four-day visit to Japan, aimed at strengthening coastal security, improving the investment climate and expanding cooperation in skills, agriculture and climate change.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir announced the agreements and loan commitments at a press briefing at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo on Wednesday, the third day of the prime minister’s visit.
Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon also spoke at the press briefing.
Humaiun Kobir said the instruments include four memorandums of cooperation (MoCs) and a grant agreement.
Beyond these government-level agreements, 17 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed between private-sector entities at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), he said.
The grant agreement provides up to 2.12 billion yen ($13.44 million) for the provision of a patrol vessel to strengthen Bangladesh’s coastal security capabilities.
The two countries also signed an MoC on economic relations and improving the business environment between Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division under the Ministry of Finance.
Another MoC was signed between Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Agriculture.
A separate MoC was signed on the Employment for Skill Development Programme (ESDP).
The two sides also signed an MoC between Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to promote cooperation in the fisheries and livestock sectors.
The sixth instrument was a Letter of Intent on climate change cooperation between Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Apart from the six instruments, Japan pledged two loan projects to support Bangladesh’s development – a yen15.88 billion ($100.8 million) project to improve the investment environment and a yen30.68 billion ($194.7 million) loan for the Upazila Governance and Development Project (Phase 2).