A Correspondent:
Bangladesh and Japan on Wednesday signed eight instruments to enhance cooperation in the sectors of agriculture, metro-rail, industrial up-gradation, ship-recycling, customs matters, intellectual property, defense, ICT and cyber security.
The instruments were exchanged in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio after the bilateral summit meeting they held at the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan.
Among the instruments, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Agricultural Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan for cooperation on agricultural research & development, capacity building and others.
An agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters was signed between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to ensure the proper application of the customs laws; to prevent, investigate and repress any customs offense, and to take cooperative efforts for simplification and harmonization of customs procedures.
A MoC on Bangladesh-Japan Industrial Upgrading Partnership Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan to establish a framework to jointly explore the possibilities of upgrading Bangladesh’s industries through promoting cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan at both government and private level with a view to supporting trade performance and product diversification for smooth graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026 and ongoing efforts to be a developed country by 2041 in line with the “Vision 2041.”
A Memorandum on Defense Cooperation between the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Government of Japan was signed to promote and strengthen cooperation in the fields of defence dialogue, exchange of visits, education, training, courses, seminars, workshops, technology transfer, and any other agreed activities pertinent thereto.
A MoC was signed between the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan on Cooperation in the field of Metro Rail was signed to Cooperation on metro rail policy, laws, and regulation; technology for infrastructure, rolling stocks and systems; safety policy and management; disaster prevention measures.
A MoC was signed between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh in the field of Ship Recycling.
The Bangladeshi side will make every effort to achieve required capabilities to accede and implement the Hong Kong International Convention (HKC) for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships by the end of 2023.
As per the instrument, the Japanese side will make every effort to provide support for the development of Bangladesh in the field of ship recycling, including the establishment of a Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility, and to assist Bangladesh to meet the requirements in provisions of the HKC.
A MoC was signed between the Japan Patent Office and the Department of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on Intellectual Property for the Cooperation on promotion of comprehension on the intellectual property right (IPR) systems and practices by exchanging information and practices, promoting public awareness on the importance of IPR, improvement of the IPR systems to enhance the development of industry and innovation, etc.
A MoC was signed between the ICT Bangladesh and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for cooperation in the Field of Information and Communication Technology including Cyber Security
On behalf of Bangladesh, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, National Board of Revenue chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem, Principal Staff Officer Of Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Industry Secretary Zakia Sultana and Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri signed the instruments.
