CCC mayor wants Japan's cooperation in infrastructure development
Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury sought Japan's cooperation in increasing investment and employment through the development of Chattogram's infrastructure sector.
According to a press release from CCC, during a courtesy meeting with the Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori at CCC today, the mayor said that Chattogram is historically famous as a port and commercial city, adding, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made huge investments in various sectors from construction of tunnels to increase the capacity of the port to exploit this trade potential of Chattogram.
Prime minister has allocated Tk 2,500 crore project for the development of Chattogram, adding, through this project, advanced communication system is being developed in Chattogram which will make Chattogram the commercial hub of the world, he said, adding, "I want Japan to support this development."
"I am trying to develop better quality communication and logistics to exploit the huge commercial potential of Chattogram due to its natural location," he said, adding, "Japan's public and private development organisations including JICA can stand by Bangladesh in this regard."
"I want to build a beautiful Chattogram by utilising Japan's economic support and technical knowledge and experience," he said.
Japanese ambassador Iwama Kiminori assured the mayor that along with JICA, Japanese commercial companies are contributing to the infrastructure development of Chattogram by investing in the private-public partnership model, says the press release, adding, this trend will continue in the future.
Expressing Japan's interest in expanding trade in Bangladesh, the ambassador said that there are many Japanese companies investing in Chattogram and its Mirsarai EPZs, he said, adding, at present, 20 major industrial groups including Nippon Steel, one of Japan's largest corporations, are conducting commercial activities in Chattogram and many more are interested in investing.
This investment can increase many folds with sufficient support, he said.
The ambassador said Japan has always been cooperating to accelerate the pace of development of Bangladesh by exploiting the immense potential of the port city of Chattogram.
The delegation accompanied by the Japanese military ships JS Uraga and JS Awaji, which were visiting Chattogram, told the mayor that Japan wants the cooperation of Bangladesh in implementing the resolution of building a peaceful world through mutual cooperation, says the press release.