Dhaka urges Tokyo to hire BD workers ahead of 2020 Olympic
The government will implement a number of projects, including 1200-megawatt Matarbari Ultra Super Critical coal-fired power plant in Cox’s Bazar with a Japanese loan package under the 35th Official Development Assistance (ODA), said the State Minister for Foreign Affairs here on Thursday.
Bangladesh and Japan signed the Exchange of Notes (EoN) concerning the 35th yen loan package projects totalling 120 billion yen, equivalent to US$ 1.18 billion, during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Japan visit, M Shahriar Alam told reporters at the Foreign Ministry.
The ODA was pledged by Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida during his visit to Bangladesh in March.
The other projects, to be implemented with the Japanese assistance, are Inclusive City Governance Project, Haor Flood Management and Livelihood Improvement Project, Natural Gas Efficiency Project, Small and Marginal-Sized Farmers Agricultural Productivity Improvement and Diversification Financing Project, said the State Minister.
Shahriar Alam also said Olympic and Paralympics Games will be held in Tokyo in 2020, and Japan will require huge skilled and semiskilled workers for having the construction works accomplished.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested her Japanese counterpart to recruit Bangladeshis for the purpose, including reconstruction and rehabilitation process in tsunami-hit areas, he said.
“In response, the Japanese Prime Minister assured of taking the matter into active consideration,” said Shahriar Alam.
The press conference was arranged to brief the media about Prime Minister’s just-concluded Japan visit. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque was, among others, present.
Source: UNB Connect
