Planning Minister for Signing FTA with Japan

Planning Minister MA Mannan today stressed the need for signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Japan for boosting bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation.

He also expressed his firm optimism that the bilateral relationship between the two countries would be better, stronger and warm in the coming years.

"Based on the experiences of the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and Japan over the last 50 years, we're looking forward to the next 50 years which is going to be much better, stronger and warm," he said.

The Planning Minister said this while addressing a dialogue on "Bangladesh-Japan Partnership for the Next Development Journey" as the chief guest held at a city hotel.

Organised by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Kazi Nabil Ahmed, MP, spoke on the occasion as the special guest while Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh ITO Naoki and Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed spoke as the guests of Honour.

Research fellow of the CPD Syed Yusuf Sadaat made a presentation on the Bangladesh-Japan partnership for the next development journey while board member of Asian University of Women Kathy Matsui made the keynote presentation.

Besides, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Yuho Hayakawa, Professor Dr Tatsufumi Yamagata, CPD research director Dr Khandaker Golam Moazzem, Prof Dr Kenta Goto of Kansai University, Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Asif A Chowdhury spoke as panel discussants.

On the other hand, renowned economist Rehman Sobhan spoke on the occasion virtually while former Ambassador Faruk Sobhan also spoke.