Newsletter No. 328
News-Analysis
July 14, 2006

 

MORE JAPANESE ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR BANGLADESH

The Bangladeshi press has recently carried stories on new Japanese projects to improve economic conditions in Bangladesh.

On the 12th, the Government of Bangladesh signed an agreement with Pacific Consultant International (PCI) -- a Japanese company -- to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of a deep-sea port in Bangladesh. PCI Director Mototoshi Kakiuchi concluded the agreement at the Ministry of Shipping in Dhaka. The Minister, Major Quamrul Islam, told the press, “The government has taken the move to construct the deep sea port keeping the country’s future business potential in mind.”

Under the deal, PCI will examine nine possible sites, and then develop appraisals of their suitability together with designs and cost estimates. Some are saying that a deep sea port would “immensely benefit” the economy of the country. The feasibility study is expected to take about a year to complete.

Another report in the press has it that some Japanese government agencies wish to bring more Bangladeshis to Japan for industrial training. Although the report is not entirely clear in its details, it seems that there are already twelve workers being hosted, and that this number will soon be expanded. Several days ago, a four-member delegation from Japan visited the State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment in Dhaka and discussed this proposal.

Finally, a third story reports that the new ambassador to Dhaka, Masayuki Inoue, signed an agreement last week that would provide a US$6 million grant to Bangladesh to replace thirty dilapidated bridges with new portable steel bridges in rural areas. In his comments, Ambassador Inoue noted that, “the grant would greatly contribute to improving transportation network in the rural areas, which is one of the high priorities in reducing poverty in Bangladesh.”

According to the Financial Express newspaper, “portable steel bridges will be installed at the crucial locations of major rural roads of the districts where existing water channels are critically impeding the road traffic of goods and people. It is expected that the project would contribute greatly to the continued vitalisation of the rural economies in Bangladesh. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) will implement the scheme.”