Bangladesh can manufacture some parts of industrial machines and send those to Japanese factories in South-East Asia and India, as the former has great potential in the sector, said Shiro Sadoshima, Japanese ambassador in Dhaka.

The ambassador spoke at a programme on “Japan-Bangladesh relations: comprehensive partnership” organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), at its office yesterday.

He gave example of Op-Seed Bangladesh, a firm in Chittagong Export Processing Zone, which manufactures pushbuttons of vending machines and exports to Japan. Bangladesh is turning into a very important strategic corner, he said.

“The country should take steps now to diversify its export items. Japan could help Bangladesh in this regard.”

Diversification of industrial base is the key to industrial development, he said.

Major exporting goods of Bangladesh, like garment, go to North America and EU, he said, adding that, very little of these exported goods go to the East Asian market.

There are other countries like China, South Korea and Japan that can be destinations of Bangladeshi products, he said.

Japan has started discussions with the government of Bangladesh to open an industrial park to invite potential Japanese investors, he said. 

He said Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority has agreed to provide two buildings for the industrial park.

He also suggested Bangladesh to take good care of the pharmaceutical industry to boost export.

Japan is eager to help Bangladesh in the fields of energy efficiency, vocational training and maritime science.

Bangladesh's export to Japan has increased 2.5 times in the last five years, said AKM Abdur Rahman, director general of BIISS.

Munshi Faiz Ahmad, chairman of the board of governors of BIISS, also spoke.