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from Bangladesh and extend greater cooperation in expediting
national development, as a Japanese business expert found endless
prospects for the country's uplift. She made the call during
discussion when Chairman of the Japan-Bangladesh Joint Committee for
Commercial and Economic Cooperation Toshihito Tamba paid a courtesy
call on her at her office yesterday. During the meeting, the joint
committee chief handed over a list of requests to the Prime Minister
to promote overseas investment in Bangladesh. The list includes
prolongation of the expiry date of stay for investors and their
family members, preferably by over two years, reduction in tax on SIM
card of mobile telephone, giving tax privileges to investors in ICT
infrastructure, compliance with international financial rules and
regulations such as Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary
Credits by the commercial banks in Bangladesh. The Japan-Bangla
chairman lauded Bangladeshi expatriates in Japan as hardworking and
disciplined. In reply, Hasina requested Japan to import more human
resources from Bangladesh and called for more Japanese investment in
various development sectors of the country. She pointed out that
low-cost production base and attractive incentives offered by the
government made Bangladesh an ideal destination for foreign
investment. "Japanese entrepreneurs can take comparative advantage of
an attractive package of incentives for FDI in energy and power
sectors, industries and other infrastructure-development sectors,"
the Prime Minister said. Hasina viewed that Bangladesh could follow
Japan as its model country, as it has turned itself into a developed
nation from its agro-based economy. Hasina told Tamba that Bangladesh
attaches due importance to its relations with Japan as it has been
one of the major development partners of Bangladesh since its
independence in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman. They hoped that the friendly bilateral relations
between Bangladesh and Japan would be strengthened further in the
days to come. Tamba reiterated Japanese government's invitation to
Sheikh Hasina to visit Japan. The Prime Minister said she already has
accepted the invitation and is willing to make the visit at a "
suitable" time. "Bangladesh is a country of endless prospects," the
Japanese business magnet said and expressed the hope that the
potential will be best utilised by the present government of the
country. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim, Prime
Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Japanese Ambassador in
Bangladesh Tamotsu Shinotsuka and Ambassador M Ziauddin were present.
