Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki said Chittagong is en route to becoming an industrial hub after completion of various ongoing projects including Matarbari Port, Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Highway, and Dhaka-Chittagong main power grid strengthening.
Chittagong is a city that continues to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) from Japan. It will play an important role in the further growth of the economy of Bangladesh, he said while addressing an event as chief guest on Saturday.
Chittagong AOTS Alumni Society (Caas) Bangladesh organized the event on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh.
The Japanese ambassador said: "A total of 10 companies with Japanese investment are doing business in Chittagong Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and Karnaphuli EPZ. Bangabandhu Industrial City is getting ready. I am sure that Chittagong will continue to attract Japanese FDIs."
Japan has been by Bangladesh's side for the past 50 years, still is, and will continue to be Bangladesh's development partner in the future, he added.
Naoki expressed hope that the relationship between the two countries will reach a new height during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Japan in November this year.
Caas President engr AUM Zubair presided over the program while Chairman of BSRM Alihussain Akberali, Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) Country Representative Yuji Ando, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) Country Representative Ichiguchi Tomohide, and the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) Adviser AKM Moazzem Hussain were present as special guests.
Besides, AOTS President Shinya Kuwayama participated in the program through video conference.
Caas President AUM Zubair said: "Japan is one of our major development partners. We organized this event to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic friendship between the two countries. Economic development requires not only infrastructure but also human resource development. AOTS is working to develop skilled human resources."
