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10 January, 2008 11:14 PM
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| Newsletter
No. 693
The following round-up of stories on Japan-Bangladesh relations has been provided by M. Aynul Islam (Shingetsu Member No. 152) of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies in Dhaka.
Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus visited Japan from 6 to 12 July, 2007, at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. He met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, and other high officials during his visit. Professor Yunus also attended programmes hosted by the presidents of the Yomiuri and Nikkei newspapers, and participated in a live programme of NHK Television. He also met newsmen at the Japan Press Club and professors of Kyushu University, etc. During his stay in Japan, Professor Yunus presented a keynote address entitled 'Feminisation of Poverty: Causes, Effects and Eradication' at an international symposium entitled 'Women and Poverty Eradication' at United Nations University, Tokyo. He also delivered a lecture on 'Peace and Poverty Reduction' at Hiroshima University. He urged the Japanese government and private companies to do more "social business" to better help the poor. Yunus said that official development assistance is "a very restricted framework" because it is basically a government-to-government relationship: "Development is a much wider issue than government to government. That should be government to the people of the country." Social business is to "do good to other people," rather than to maximize profits, he said. "I hope Japanese people will be interested in creating social businesses… and show leadership to the world." Yunus and his Grameen Bank, founded in 1983, offers micro-credit, or small-lot, collateral-free loans, to poor people. Many borrowers use the loans to start small businesses and secure other sources of income and escape poverty. There are more than seven million borrowers in Bangladesh, 97% of whom are women, and the practice has been adopted in more than sixty countries, according to Yunus. The microfinance system has had such a great influence on development that it is now being used all over the world as an effective means of poverty reduction and self-help support for the poor, especially poor women. In recognition of these achievements, Dr. Yunus and his Grameen Bank won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. Efforts like those of Dr. Yunus could contribute to realizing the “Human Security” that has been emerging at the global level. This visit stirred awareness among the Japanese people of the problems of developing countries and the importance of international cooperation to solve them.
Japanese Ambassador Delivers Speech on Elections Issue Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue said an early election and a new elected government in Bangladesh are imperative to attract foreign investment, alongside keeping the ongoing reforms and anti-graft drive steaming ahead. "The world is very small… Every citizen in Japan knows what is happening in Bangladesh," he said, adding, "I am glad the present government is committed to reforms and anti-corruption activities. This is very good sign." Ambassador Inoue, who was delivering a keynote speech at a discussion on 'Trade and Investment with Japan' at the La Vinci Hotel, made the remark responding to a query from the audience during the question and answer session. The envoy said when he came here to take up his assignment there was so much political unrest and Japanese investors questioned security and safety as well as the rate of corruption. Appreciating the caretaker government's reform and anti-corruption steps, Inoue said observing the current reforms the Japanese government has decided to commit new loans for the Hairpur powerhouse, railway and water resources development. "I hope this trend will continue… but early elections are important, which requires good preparation, and establishment of a new elected government is also important on the other hand." The ambassador said his mission here is to strengthen economic ties between Dhaka and Tokyo by providing information to Japanese investors, but he cannot press the investors to make investments in Bangladesh. Organized by the International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB), the discussion was also addressed by JETRO representative Tomohiro Kinomoto, Board of Investment executive member Abu Reza Khan, T. R. Amin, Managing Director of SAIF Powertec, and IBFB president Mahmud ul-Islam Chowdhury. The ambassador said to attract greater investment from Japan it is important to be compliant with international business practices, and that the financial institutions are a major area in need of improvement "Bangladesh may lose business if it fails to learn from mistakes and failures," he said. The Japanese diplomat also pointed out that it is highly desirable to have access to a comprehensive 'One Stop Service' as he said presently several licenses are required for a newly investing company to start operations in Bangladesh. Citing the example of Vietnam, he said that in 2003 the Vietnamese government discussed and agreed with the public and private sectors of Japan to improve the business environment in 125 areas. And within two years, 124 of these were achieved, including improvement of an arbitration mechanism and access to one-stop service. "The strong commitment and implementation by the government of Vietnam have greatly encouraged Foreign Direct Investment from Japan and other countries. We can learn from such experience," he said. To increase Bangladeshi exports to Japan, one of world's economic powerhouses, Inoue put stress on quality of products and product diversification, as Japanese consumers are rather meticulous: "Here the products speak for themselves." Secondly, the ambassador said that Bangladeshi companies as suppliers could participate more in product development by offering new designs to clients. He suggested that those who have stayed or studied in Japan could be effective focal points and such resources should be fully leveraged. He said the human network between Bangladesh and Japan is quite strong, and such bonds should be effectively utilized in the business field.
A three-member Election Commission (EC) delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. T. M. Shamsul Huda visited the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka to observe overseas voting for the Upper House election of Japanese Diet, which was being held on the embassy premises. The CEC was accompanied by Election Commissioners Sakhawat Hussain and Muhammad Sohul Hussain. Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue and other diplomats briefed the team about different aspects of the Japanese election system, including overseas voting. The CEC expressed keen interest in the actual process of overseas voting in Japan and discussed with the Japanese diplomats their experiences with election systems. In Japan, an official announcement to hold the Upper House Election on July 29 was made on July 12, and overseas voting was held in embassies and consulates all over the world. In Bangladesh, overseas voting for Japanese resident nationals was conducted at the embassy.
Artist Kanakchanpa Receives Japanese Award Kanakchanpa Chakma recently received an award at the 12th Art Miria International Contest in Japan. Artists from various countries come together in Tokyo every year to display their works at the international event. J. S. Kabir, a Bangladeshi artist settled in Japan, accepted the prize on behalf of Kanakchanpa. "It was Kabir who helped me to get in touch with the Japanese authorities," said an elated Kanakchanpa. Kanakchanpa's award-winning artwork was an acrylic on paper entitled “A Message from the Wind.” The subject brings in a gray green sky with three indigenous women who are gossiping near a river, before their bath. An element of happiness surrounds the figures. Ethnic life is a recurring feature in Kanakchanpa's works. Initially her work used to be impressionistic and near realistic. Her next exhibition will be held in Seoul, South Korea. There will be nothing overtly realistic at the exhibition and the artist will try to present her thoughts in symbols. Kanakchanpa's works highlighting Buddhist philosophy have been especially appreciated in South Korea. Next year she hopes to hold a solo exhibition in the country. The exhibit will possibly deal with ethnic groups of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
A book entitled “Japan-Bangladesh Relations,” written by Sukumar Bishwas, was published in Dhaka in June 2007. The renowned publisher Mawla Brothers published the book. The price of this book is Tk. 250.00 (in local currency).
Daily Star, 16 and 20 July 2007
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