<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Kiminori Iwama, today said that he will encourage Japanese companies to expand their business in Bangladesh to help the country achieve expected economic growth.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Japan wants to be more involved in Bangladesh’s national development,” said the ambassador in a meeting with Local Government and Rural Development Minister Tajul Islam on Wednesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ambassador expressed interest in investing in Chattogram municipality’s drainage system.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“A number of Japanese companies are interested in investing here,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also Read: Japan, IOM sign $5.7 million assistance to Rohingyas, host communities in Bangladesh</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stating that there’s a similarity between Narayanganj city and Japan’s Naruto city, he said, “There can be a city-to-city partnership agreement that will benefit both the cities."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ambassador also said Japan wants more skilled labor from Bangladesh.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He noted that Japan will increase investment in the special economic zone at Araihazar if infrastructure and other facilities are increased.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The relations between the two countries will be strengthened more by investing in large projects like the Matarbari power plant, said the ambassador.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tajul Islam stressed the exchange of assistance in the information and technology and cultural sectors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They talked about a number of ongoing projects in Bangladesh that are being supported by Japan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They both emphasized strengthening cooperation in development work. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>