Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Tanaka Akihiko at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 5:10 pm local time on Monday, 26 October, and sought continued Japanese support for Bangladesh's energy security, including budgetary assistance, according to a press release from the Prime Minister's Press Wing reported by The Business Standard.

Source: The Business Standard

The prime minister requested budget support similar to that provided last year, citing the current global energy situation, and called for continued concessional loans and expanded technical cooperation in line with Bangladesh's development priorities, the reports said. JICA Senior Vice-President Hara Shohei and other senior officials were present.

Source: The Business Standard; TOB News

Bangladesh also proposed expanding cooperation through a Bangladesh–Japan Skills Partnership, establishing a Technological Village and Innovation City, and strengthening collaboration in agricultural modernisation, agro-processing and light engineering, according to the prime minister's Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin, as reported by The Daily Alive. The discussions also covered completing major Japanese-funded development projects on schedule and speeding up approval of priority projects awaiting clearance.

Source: The Daily Alive; The Business Standard

Tarique Rahman arrived in Tokyo on Monday morning on a four-day state visit leading a 16-member high-level delegation. Earlier in the day he met Japanese lawmakers led by former prime minister Taro Aso, and Marubeni Corporation Chairman Masumi Kakinoki. In the Marubeni meeting, TOB News reported, he sought Japanese cooperation to modernise the Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) and explore a second fertiliser factory in Bangladesh, alongside greater Japanese investment in information technology, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

Source: TOB News; The Business Standard

The prime minister recalled a productive meeting with Tanaka during the JICA president's visit to Dhaka in July, and thanked Japan for its longstanding cooperation. JICA President Tanaka reaffirmed the agency's commitment to working with Bangladesh to achieve prosperity, the reports said.

Source: The Business Standard; TOB News