EPA, budget support main focus in Yunus-Ishiba meet

Budget support, Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), infrastructure development, security, regional and international affairs, including Rohingya issues, will be high on the agenda during the bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on May 30, said officials concerned.

Prof Yunus will depart for Tokyo via Hong Kong at 02:10 am tomorrow on a Cathay Pacific flight to participate in the 30th Nikkei Forum Future of Asia. He is scheduled to reach Narita International Airport at 2:30 pm (Tokyo time) on the day.

Briefing a select group of journalists at his residence, Japanese Ambassador Mr SAIDA Shinichi said issues related to trade and investment will be top of the agenda at the meeting. Asked about the volume of the budget support for Bangladesh, he said that the cabinet will decide on it.

The envoy said that both countries would have to decide when the FTA will be effective. He further said, "Since the independence of Bangladesh, Japan has been and will be your faithful development partner."

In a separate briefing about the visit, acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique told reporters that trade and investment, cooperation in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, human resources development, and the Rohingya issue will be given priority at the bilateral meeting.

"The main focus of this visit is the budgetary support," Siddique said, adding that all strategic bilateral issues will be discussed. He said a total of seven MoUs are likely to be signed during the visit.

Bangladesh has sought $1 billion from Japan in budgetary support in the form of soft loan and the announcement will come formally after the bilateral talks, while an exchange of notes will be signed, Mr Siddique said.

Director General (East Asia & Pacific wing) Mohammed Nore-Alam, and Director General (Public Diplomacy wing) Shah Asif Rahman were also present at the briefing.

Taro Aso, president of Japan Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League, will pay a courtesy call on the chief adviser on May 28.

He will attend a dinner hosted in his honour by President of Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa, where Japanese political and business leaders will be present. Following the dinner, the chief adviser will hold an interactive meeting with Japanese dignitaries.

On May 29, high-ranking officials of Nikkei will meet Prof Yunus before the opening of the Nikkei Forum. He will participate in the 30th Nikkei Forum Future of Asia.

In the inaugural plenary session, the chief adviser will deliver a keynote speech on the theme 'Asia's Challenge in a Turbulent World' calling on Asia and the entire world to work together and build a better future.

JICA President Dr Tanaka Akihiko will also pay a courtesy call on the chief adviser. During the meeting, JICA's cooperation in the future progress of Bangladesh and the progress of various projects currently being funded by JICA will be discussed.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com