The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh Office Thursday organised a special seminar on the evolving role of development cooperation and the future direction of the Japan-Bangladesh partnership amid an increasingly complex global environment.
Titled "Development Cooperation in a Complex Global Environment - Perspectives on Japan's ODA and Future Partnerships," the seminar was held at Holiday Inn Dhaka, bringing together senior government officials, academics and development cooperation experts, said a press release.
State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari attended the seminar as the chief guest, while Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky attended as special guests.
JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Junko Takahashi delivered the welcome remarks, while Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi of Kyoto University delivered the keynote lecture.
The keynote was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ryutaro Murotani, Senior Deputy Director General of the Operations Strategy Department at JICA Headquarters.
The panel included ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Additional Secretary of the Career Planning and Training Wing of the Ministry of Public Administration Dr Mohammad Manirul Islam, Dhaka University Professor S M Ali Reza, Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi and JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Junko Takahashi.
In her welcome remarks, Takahashi said Bangladesh's transformation from a newly independent nation into one of the world's fastest-growing economies was a remarkable example of national vision, resilience and leadership.
"Japan is proud to have been a trusted partner throughout this journey," she said.
Professor Nakanishi said development cooperation had evolved significantly over the past decades in response to changes in the global environment.
"As we enter an era shaped by great power competition and economic security, Japan and Bangladesh must continue to adapt their partnership while building on the strong foundation of their longstanding cooperation," he said.
State Minister Bari highlighted Japan's longstanding contributions to capacity building in Bangladesh's public sector and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in public administration reform and the development of a professional and merit-based civil service.
Ambassador Saida said Bangladesh's advancement toward middle-income status required the bilateral partnership to evolve accordingly.
"As Bangladesh advances toward middle-income status, our partnership must also evolve. We should gradually shift our focus from aid to business, while strengthening cooperation in areas such as investment, manufacturing, and start-up promotion to create new opportunities for sustainable growth," he said.
ERD Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky said Bangladesh, as it moves into its next stage of development, seeks deeper partnerships that promote knowledge sharing, innovation and institutional capacity.
He said addressing priorities including competitiveness, governance, sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience and human capital development would require stronger collaboration among all stakeholders.
The seminar provided a platform for discussions on ways to deepen Bangladesh-Japan cooperation in response to an increasingly complex global environment.
Participants underscored the importance of co-creation, knowledge sharing, human resource development and institutional strengthening in addressing shared challenges and building a prosperous, resilient and sustainable future.
Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) Bangladesh has set a new record for productivity in ship handling at the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chittagong Port. The Saudi Arabia-based company recently recorded the highest handling of 58 containers (82 TEUs) per hour using a ship-to-shore (STS) crane on a CMA-CGM vessel named MV Wanen.
This productivity was achieved while loading and unloading containers using the newly introduced ship-to-shore (STS) crane on the gearless vessel 'MV Onen' at Patenga Terminal for the first time on September 10, RSGT Bangladesh said.
RSGT Bangladesh claims that the average container handling at Chittagong Port is around 30 containers (48 TEU) per hour. This new productivity is almost double the current average. The terminal has also officially operated gearless ships for the first time through the use of new state-of-the-art equipment.
Officials of the company say that this productivity has been achieved through a combination of advanced technology equipment, international terminal management experience, modern management methods and skilled manpower. As a result, in addition to reducing the time spent by ships at the port, the efficiency of jetty use and ship-related costs can also be reduced. At the same time, the overall efficiency of the country's maritime supply system will increase. They will continue to invest in modern infrastructure, technology, management skills and manpower development to transform Patenga Container Terminal into a more efficient, competitive and global maritime gateway connected to the shipping trade.
In a statement, RSGT Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Erwin Haje said, "This achievement of achieving 58 moves or 82 TEUs per hour is not just a simple achievement of productivity; it highlights the immense potential of modern port management in Bangladesh."
He further said that this milestone has been achieved through the combined efforts of world-class technology, international experience, disciplined management methods, and a skilled workforce.
"We are committed to continuously improving our operational standards and continuing to provide safe, efficient and reliable services to our customers and partners," said Haje.
The Red Sea Gateway Terminal or RSGT Chittagong (formerly known as Patenga Container Terminal) at Chittagong Port has expanded its service coverage with the increase in its fleet capacity, the Saudi company responsible for its management said. In June 2024, the terminal was handed over to RSGT, the Saudi Arabian port management company, under a public-private partnership. This is the first terminal in Bangladesh to be released for long-term operation under a public-private partnership for the first time. However, due to various obstacles in the beginning, the company could not utilize the full capacity of the terminal. As a result, the container handling rate was also low. However, with the addition of new facilities, the handling rate of goods using the terminal has increased rapidly.
Before the addition of four state-of-the-art gantry cranes to the terminal's fleet, containers were handled using the traditional method, i.e. ship's cranes. The annual container handling capacity of the Patenga Container Terminal is about 450,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).
Commerce, Industries and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today urged Bangladeshi businessmen and entrepreneurs based in Hong Kong to invest in Bangladesh and contribute to expanding trade and investment ties between the two sides.
He made the call while addressing a discussion with Bangladeshi businesspeople and entrepreneurs at the Bangladesh Consulate General in Hong Kong this evening, said a press release here.
The meeting was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Consulate General and the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong.
The meeting discussed Bangladesh's commercial potential, investment opportunities and ways to strengthen cooperation between the business communities of Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
The participants also stressed the importance of utilising the experience, international contacts and business networks of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs living in Hong Kong to promote Bangladesh's trade and investment interests globally.
In his speech, Muktadir called upon members of the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and other Bangladeshi businessmen to come forward with investments in Bangladesh.
He said investment by Bangladeshi businesspeople abroad would not only help inject fresh dynamism into the country's economy but also create opportunities for them to expand their own businesses.
The minister emphasised further strengthening and diversifying the existing commercial relations between Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
He also underscored the need for regular communication and stronger networking between entrepreneurs and business communities of the two sides.
He particularly encouraged Hong Kong's business community to explore investment opportunities in promising sectors in Bangladesh.
The participating businessmen and entrepreneurs shared their views and proposals on strengthening commercial relations between Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
They stressed expanding markets for Bangladeshi products, increasing investment cooperation and creating more effective channels of communication between the two business communities.
Later, Muktadir unveiled the cover of 'The Bengal Visionaries', a special business directory jointly published by the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and the Bangladesh Consulate General.
The directory features profiles and business activities of Bangladeshi businessmen and entrepreneurs operating in Hong Kong and is expected to facilitate communication, networking and business collaboration among them.
The initiative is also expected to provide a platform for showcasing the capabilities and business potential of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs internationally and creating wider opportunities for direct interaction with Hong Kong-based businessmen and investors.
The joint initiative of the Bangladesh Consulate General and the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong is being viewed as an important step towards building stronger bridges between the business communities of Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
The organisers expressed hope that such initiatives would contribute to further expanding trade and investment cooperation between Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
