Newsletter No. 340
News-Analysis
July 25, 2006

 

ASO VISITS DHAKA -- BANGLADESH WANTS MORE HELP

Taro Aso arrived in Dhaka yesterday for the first visit of a Japanese Foreign Minister to Bangladesh since 1987. Since their independence from Pakistan in 1971, Tokyo has been the largest single donor to Bangladesh. The press puts the overall total at about US$7 billion.

Aso was scheduled to meet with President Iajuddin Ahmad, Prime Minster Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister M. Murshid Khan, and Leader of the Opposition Shaikh Hasina.

A source in the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister told Reuters, "Primarily we will seek Japan's assistance for the deep sea port in the Bay of Bengal and the bridge over the river Padma, in the country's north." Dhaka is hoping for a commitment of further economic aid from Tokyo reaching almost $US2 billion. Indeed, Japanese support for the Padma Bridge project was also discussed when Prime Minister Khaleda Zia visited Tokyo last July (see Shingetsu Newsletter No. 37).

Dhaka is also concerned about their trade balance with Japan. While Japan is the fourth-largest foreign investor in the country, the balance is heavily in Japan’s favor. In 2005, Japan exported US$528 million worth of goods to Bangladesh, but only imported $US153 million.