Speakers at a seminar in Tokyo has said reaching 50th year of Japan International Cooperation Agency’s cooperation with Bangladesh is a significant milestone and called for stronger cooperation with Japan JICA in future.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo organized the seminar styled “JICA with Bangladesh: Reaching 50th Year and Way Forward” held on Friday (June 10) at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall in collaboration with JICA.

Ms. Fatima Yasmin, Secretary of Economic Relations Division inaugurated the event through video message while Ms. Mari AKIYAMA, Director spoke on behalf of Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The keynote speech was delivered by Junichi YAMADA, Senior Executive Vice President, JICA.

Distinguished members of the public sector, industry, academia and civil society participated at the interactive panel discussion. Theme of the panel was ‘Expectations pertaining to JICA’s future cooperation with Bangladesh’.

Shahabuddin Ahmed, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan delivered the concluding remarks.

While looking back on the cooperation with JICA so far, the speakers at the seminar explored ways to further strengthen the partnership in the future.

They said reaching 50th year of JICA’s cooperation with Bangladesh is a significant milestone. Over the years JICA has been the single largest bilateral development partner of Bangladesh.

The dream of Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build ‘Sonar Bangla’ or ‘Golden Bengal’ is being realized by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.

Since her visit to Japan in 2014, when the relationship between Bangladesh and Japan was upgraded to ‘Comprehensive Partnership’, the financial and technical assistance of JICA has been significantly increased.

Especially under the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) initiative, JICA’s support in infrastructure, transportation, power, and energy sectors is complementing Government’s endeavors.

JICA also continues to cooperate in social sectors, such as health, agriculture, and disaster management. On the occasion of reaching the milestone of 50th year of cooperation between JICA and Bangladesh, the speakers at the seminar expected the collaboration to grow stronger and diversified in the next 50 years.

They suggested continuous dialogue as a mechanism for effective, efficient, and sustainable implementation of projects and programmes. The seminar was moderated by Syed Nasir Ershad, Economic Minister of the Mission.