State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has sought cooperation from Japan to implement Bangladesh's integrated energy and power masterplan.
"Japan can help prepare and implement a smart and detailed masterplan which will carry forward all other sectors," he told Iwama Kiminori, the newly appointed Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, who paid a courtesy call on him at his ministry on Tuesday.
The state minister said a smart power and energy masterplan is needed for a smart Bangladesh.
Welcoming the newly appointed ambassador of Japan, he said Bangladesh will require $30 billion in investment in the next 5 years to implement the projects to be taken up under the masterplan.
He floated the idea that a joint operation and maintenance company could be formed which could save both money and time for Bangladesh.
"JICA can support the Bangladesh Power Management Institute to make it an international-standard institution," he added.
During the meeting they discussed various issues of mutual interest.
Progress of different projects in the power and energy sector including Matarbari Power Hub, underground cables and sub-stations, prepaid meters, smart meters, gas meters and upcoming projects also came up for discussion.
The ambassador thanked the state minister for 100% electrification and said Japan will always cooperate in the development activities of Bangladesh.
He said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will work on capacity building for human resource development in Bangladesh.
Iwama Kiminori said many more small and large Japanese companies are taking interest in coming to Bangladesh after witnessing the success of the Japanese company ONUDA in manufacturing gas meters.
He also said that the concept of Smart Bangladesh will transform Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041.
