Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh : Email Bulletin Archive

Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (19th issue / February 23rd, 2005)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh - ====================================================================================================

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[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi
"Flower Business in Bangladesh"

At the beginning of last month, I went to see "National Flower Show 2005" at the T&T Ground of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. It was the tenth show, but the first one to be organized as an independent show--other nine shows were parts of Dhaka International Trade Fair.

At the show, 54 companies and organizations set up their booths, and displayed various kinds of orchids, roses, gerberas, lilies, chrysanthemums, carnations, and foliage plants. Moreover, they also exhibited wrapping cartons for export of cut flowers, soil for gardening, and earthen and terra-cotta pots. Among the exhibits, one of the most attractive things was uncommon orchids cultivated with "tissue culture", biotechnology to make cloned plants.

Under this new technology, a piece of a leave about 5 mm by 5 mm is put into a jar with culture solution composed of growth hormones, sugar, etc. It shortly germinates, and grows up to be a young plant of about five centimeters within two weeks. Then, it is picked out and cultivated with soil. Within a few months, it grows up to be a fine orchid. Although it costs only fifteen taka to make a five-centimeter-long young plant, including all costs such as labor and material costs, a grown orchid is sold for 300 to 600 taka.

Since a climate of high temperature and high humidity is good for cultivation of cut flowers and foliage plants, the Government of Bangladesh promotes cultivation and export of those plants. They are exported to India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, US, UK, Italy, etc. The total value of exports in 2003-2004 was US$770,000, which was sixteen percent more than last year. They say that each worker gets six thousand taka per month.

To cope with poverty, which is one of the biggest issues in Bangladesh, rural development, where seventy or eighty percent of the total population live, is one of the key elements. Besides, since the increase in agriculture production has a certain limit, it is said that, for rural development, it is necessary to develop commerce and industry, especially agro-industry, increase non-traditional farm produce, and find new export destinations.

In this regard, cultivation and export of cut flowers and foliage plants give us high hopes. Especially, an impressive thing in the show was that most of the exhibitors were the young. Furthermore, some of exhibiting companies did not only cultivate flowers and plants, but also did commercial gardening, rented flowers, sold seeds, and arranged flowers. I felt reassured by the young entrepreneurship, who give job opportunities to poor women in rural districts and disabled people, and inspire development of the new sector.

Because most of the nurseries of the exhibiting companies are in Savar, the huge flood last July and August, and the heavy rain last September severely devastated the nurseries. However, within a few months by this January, they got the flowers ready for the show, obtaining seeds and plants from undamaged districts or from Thailand, cultivating at high pressure with "tissue culture". I was also impressed with their resilience, and felt that such positive trends could turn Bangladesh's economic fate for the better in the future.

(Ambassador's past messages are posted on the following website.)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/eBulletin/index.html

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[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Discover Japan Exhibition (Feb. 24, Dhaka)

On February 24, from 10 a.m., a Japanese cultural exhibition titled "Discover Japan" will be held at the National Public Library.

"Discover Japan" is a composite program featuring a wide range of Japanese culture including Ikebana, Bonsai, Japanese doll, Origami, Japanese books, newspapers and books on Japan written by Bangladeshi writers.

Moreover, Karate and Judo demonstration will be performed, and information on higher study would be provided during the program.

You are cordially invited to visit the venue and experience Japanese culture.

* Seminar on Primary Science and Math under PEDP II (Feb. 24, Dhaka)

An Introductory Seminar on Primary Science and Mathematics under PEDP II has been arranged at the Dhaka Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on February 24, 2005.

Mr. A.K.M. Shamsuddin, Secretary of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, will attend as the chief guest. Ambassador Horiguchi, Mr. Brajesh P. Panth, Task Manager, PEDP II, BRM, ADB, and Mr. MD. Mujibor Rahman, Director of Training Division, DPE will attend as special guests.

* Bonsai Exhibition & Competition (Feb. 27-Mar. 1, Dhaka)

The Bangladesh Bonsai Society and the Embassy of Japan will jointly organize a three-day Bonsai workshop, exhibition, and competition at the National Music and Dance Centre, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on
February 27, 28, and March 1, 2005.

Mr. Susumu Nakamura, one of the most distinguished Bonsai Masters in Japan will conduct the workshop and deliver lecture.

The inaugural ceremony of the exhibition will be held at 10 a.m. on February 28, 2005. Professor Mahmudul Haque, Director General of Bangladesh National Museum will grace the ceremony as the chief guest.

The concluding ceremony of the exhibition will be held at 3:30 p.m. on March 1, 2005. H.E. Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Minister for Information and Communication Technology of the Government of Bangladesh has given
his kind consent to grace the occasion as the chief guest.

Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan along with Ambassador Horiguchi, the Bonsai Master and the President of Bangladesh Bonsai Society will distribute certificates among workshop participants and prizes to the artists of the best four Bonsai works. For more information, please contact Cultural Section, Embassy of Japan.

* Cultural Events (Mar., Dhaka)

The following Japan-related cultural events are being planned:
Mar. 18, Grand Ikebana Contest (Spectra Convention Center, Gulshan-I)
Mar. 19, Japanese Speech Contest (BRAC Center)

For detailed information, please contact the Embassy person in-charge between Sunday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for lunch
hours from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
TEL: 881-0087(ext: 155, 158)

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[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* JUAAB Bengali Speech and Song Contest (Feb. 19, Dhaka)

On February 19, JUAAB (Japanese University Alumni Association in Bangladesh) organized the Bengali speech and song contest at TSC Hall, University of Dhaka.

On this occasion, some foreign nationals including Japanese living in Bangladesh delivered their speech in Bengali, and others sang Bengali songs. After the contest, some cultural performances were staged.

The whole program was broadcast by Channel-I.

* Bird Flu Workshop (Feb. 17, Dhaka)

Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) jointly organized Workshop on "Development of Awareness and Preventive Measures of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Poultry" on February 17 at the Sonargaon Hotel.

At the workshop, Professor Kazuaki Takehara, Ph.D, Kitasato University, Japan, made a presentation on quick diagnosis and early treatment.

H.E. Mr. Abdullah Al Noman, Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, Mr. Akio Arai, Resident Representative of JICA, Mr. Hidetoshi Ukita, Minister of Embassy of Japan, and 200 people concerned attended the workshop.

The speech by Minister Ukita will be posted on the following website soon.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sphmhoriguchi.html

* Workshop on Small Scale Water Resources Development (Feb. 9, Dhaka)

On February 9, JICA study team held a workshop on JICA master plan study on small scale water resources development for poverty alleviation through effective use of surface water in greater Mymensingh at the LGED headquarters.

Through the workshop, participants shared the interim report based on the results of Phase-I study and discussed on the planned procedures of the phase-II study.

Minister Ukita marked the following speech at the workshop.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/cdr02sp_water020905.html

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[4] JBCCI Member Report
"Japan, The Land of Rising Sun--a Close Look and a Reflection with our Business"
Mr. Md. Harun Ur Rashid Bhuiyan
Chairman, TradeStars Ltd.

We arrived at Narita Airport in Japan for the first time on 20th April, 2004. We had a business tour to attend CPhI exhibition and several business meetings with many other Japanese entrepreneurs like Shimadzu, Kett, Hitachi, Ishida and APC.

CPhI, Japan organized an exhibition and conference on pharmaceutical chemicals such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), intermediates, raw materials, and all sorts of pharma lab equipments and services from 21st to 23rd April, 2004, at "Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center".

Since 2002, TradeStars Ltd, a trading and marketing company, started to sell "SHIMADZU" Digital Precision Balance. In marketing and trading, we were also connected with another Japanese equipment company named "Kett Electric Company". Their equipments are especially for laboratory quality control system; mainly for Pharmaceuticals industries, Food industries, Chemical industries, Textile industries, and anywhere there is necessity of quality control. In course of time, we introduced pharmaceuticals, API's, intermediates, and other chemicals in the field of our marketing and trading.

In our meeting, we had a very clear and precise discussion with Japanese business people. They are very much organized in their presentation with all real data of the market and their products. In our last three-year experience with Japanese product marketing, we found that they are always thinking with market feasibility in respect of their analysis of the facts and figures in making decisions.

We are glad to say that we had seen the best time performance, the best way of discussion related with all sources of information and data, the best realistic views of analysis, and the best professional business decisions with a feasible and viable business perspective. Our experiences in this tour with our Japanese business partners were an important learning sessions for us, we should honestly say it.

We had seen Japanese people are very busy and attentive to their responsibilities. They are very soft in manner, and provide all kinds of assistance and co-operation. In connection of introducing traditional and social values, we met two of our Japanese friends, Mr. Noboru Hiyama, Manager, Registration and external relation section, marketing department, and Mr. Tomomichi Murakami engineer of Kinden Corporation. We found them as persons of cordial hospitality and very soft manner. They showed their traditional and social values, views through their conversation, and discussion which cannot be forgotten. They expressed their appreciation for our liberation war in 1971 and concerns for various natural disasters in Bangladesh. We are really proud of having such friends in Japan.

In this business session, we found our Japanese business mates most attentive to our organization structure, expertise, and discipline because they always consider the plan with future perspective and on the basis of real scenario of the market. Controlling by their professional expertise, they implement their plan to achieve the
forecasted goal step by step with a unique time performance.

Japan is a leading developed country in technology and industry in the world. Japanese are maintaining the real distribution in their research and development, and production among their big-medium-small level of industries and organizations with a full team responsibility of assuring products, quality, and services. This is really a system of total development not only for a product but also for the total structure of industry, business, and commerce. This is certainly an important system for a developing country like Bangladesh.

Considering business in Bangladesh, Japan has a keen interest to develop their relationship. It is our gratitude to say that, since the independence of Bangladesh, Japan has been one of its leading partners for development. Since Bangladesh is one of the less developed countries in Asia, Japan has a special concern for its development. The Government of Japan has given emphasis on our infrastructure development by developing human resources, securities, governance, and environment.

It is our pleasure of having the message from His Excellency Mr. Matsushiro Horiguchi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, that Japan is considering the plan of developing our private sector, which will create a more feasible business environment in our country. We are hopeful that Japanese assistance and business co-operation will make a glorious and prosperous Bangladesh in future.

(Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) Website)
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/jbcci/index.html

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