Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a courtesy meeting with Uno Yoshimasa, special adviser to Japan’s prime minister, at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat on Tuesday, July 28. The talks focused on strengthening the Bangladesh-Japan strategic partnership and taking bilateral relations to a new level.

Rahman sought more active Japanese cooperation in human-resource development, skills enhancement and other sectors. He urged the Japanese delegation to pursue recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi health workers, agricultural labourers and drivers through Japanese-language proficiency. He also called for increased investment by Japanese companies in Bangladesh and stressed joint work to expand trade and economic cooperation.

The prime minister said the government would provide full support if Japan showed interest in establishing another industrial park similar to the one in Araihazar, Narayanganj. Participants also discussed the planned December 16 opening of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, progress on the ongoing Mass Rapid Transit project and other infrastructure cooperation. Ministers, advisers, Japanese aviation officials and Japan’s ambassador to Bangladesh attended the meeting.