JICA to expand activities

Vice-President Kunimitsu Yoshinaga said JICA would strengthen its cooperation in some new areas including institutional development for human security promotion, empowerment of communities and advance investment climates.

"Bangladesh has made a remarkable success in rural development, rice production and urbanisation during the last one decade. But still there are many challenges to be addressed," Kunitsu told journalists at a press briefing at JICA Dhaka office yesterday.

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Kunimitsu, who leaves Dhaka yesterday after a five-day visit, said he had extensive visits to some of the urban and rural areas, where he found a 'touch of positive changes."

"I was impressed with the progress both at rural and urban areas as well as the energy people have in Bangladesh," he said. The changes could faster if issues of good governance were added to that, he added.

Expressing his satisfaction with the performance of JICA Dhaka office, he said it has built a bridge between the two sides. He also expressed the hope that more Japanese official development assistance (ODA) would be provided to Bangladesh based on the reputation made by JICA Dhaka office.

JICA Dhaka office has become one of the eight model operation centres in the world. Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Kenya and Senegal are seven other model JICA operation centres.

Kunimitsu said Bangladesh deserves further assistance as it is in the good book of the Japanese taxpayers. He said JICA in phases would take new projects for faster economic growth in Bangladesh, which require a flow of foreign direct investments (FDI).

Countries in the central Asia and Balkan region have been trying to attract more FDI from Japan and other countries solving their problems, which are also existed in Bangladesh. So Bangladesh should immediately look into the problems and create a more friendly investment atmosphere here, he said.

JICA Resident Representative Takashi Sakamoto, Additional Resident Representative Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki and Deputy Resident Representative Taro Naotsuka were present at the briefing.