'We want you to be partners in Bangladesh's achievements'

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday extended an invitation to Japanese companies to collaborate with Bangladesh on its growth and achievements as it moves toward a prosperous future.

"Bangladesh is moving forward to a prosperous future. We want you all to be partner of our development and achievements," she said while inaugurating the Bangladesh Investment Summit at Hotel Westin in Tokyo.

"We want you all to be partners of our development and achievements," she said.

 She invited all to come to Bangladesh and explore the business and investment opportunities.

"Do invest in Bangladesh. We are confident that your investment will bring you huge success," she said.

Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Nishimura Yasutoshi, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Chairman Ishiguro Norihiko and Chairman of Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Ken Kobayashi also spoke at the programme.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) jointly organised the summit titled "Trade and Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and Japan".

Hasina expressed her happiness at seeing collaboration between Bangladeshi and Japanese companies.

"We expect more investments from Japanese investors especially in the Japanese Economic Zone in Araihazar," she said.

She said the number of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) and people of Bangladeshi origin living in Japan are gradually increasing and they provide significant support to Bangladesh's economic activities through their remittances.

"I also urge them to develop more entrepreneurship, engage in business initiatives and joint ventures with their Japanese friends," she said.

According to PM, Bangladesh is working with Japan to make a potential Economic Partnership Agreement in order to increase bilateral trade and investment since Bangladesh would graduate from the LDC category by 2026.