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Japan has shown interest to sign free trade agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh, officials said on Thursday.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Hiroyasu Izumi expressed his interest when he met Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal at the latter's secretariat office in Dhaka on Wednesday evening.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative in Bangladesh Hitoshi Hirata and high officials of the Japanese Embassy and JICA office in Dhaka were also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, Mr Kamal urged the delegates to boost Japanese investments in Bangladesh saying, "This is high time for any global investors to invest in Bangladesh."
The finance minister thanked Japan for extending its economic and financial cooperation especially in infrastructure development work.
The Japanese envoy assured the minister of helping Bangladesh reform the tax management system and develop solid waste management system, said a statement of the finance ministry on Thursday.
Mr Izumi also informed him that Japan is now providing some Yen 200 billion worth of loans for six projects including MRT-6 line construction work.
The loan package will be increased for Bangladesh's different projects in the future, he said, adding that Japanese people are very much friendly to Bangladesh as Tokyo is providing assistance from taxes the people are paying.