Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh : Email Bulletin Archive

Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (34th issue / Sep 18, 2005)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh - ====================================================================================================

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[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Follow-up of the Prime Minister's visit to Japan"

The second Japan Trade Fair was held for three days from September 8 and concluded with a great success. There may be a detailed report on the fair in this e-bulletin later. On the occasion of this fair, Mr. Koji Nojima, the Chairman of the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Co-operation, visited Bangladesh and had talks with the Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the Foreign Minister Mr. M. Morshed Khan, the Board of Investment (BOI) Executive Chairman Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, the Communication Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda, and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

At the meeting with Prime Minister Zia, Mr. Nojima first requested cooperation of the Government of Bangladesh, because Japanese corporate executives who attended the investment seminar during Prime Minister Zia's visit to Japan last July are considering concrete investments in Bangladesh. The Prime Minister Zia expressed her government's all-out cooperation.

Moreover, Prime Minister Zia requested cooperation in selling of government-managed companies and export of Bangladesh products such as medicines to Japan, and Mr. Nojima requested detailed information in order to study those requests in Japan. Prime Minister Zia replied that she would let secretaries of ministries concerned visit Mr. Nojima's hotel to explain the proposals elaborately. Later on, ten government officials, including secretaries of three ministries, visited Mr. Nojima and explained the proposals in details.

I hear that Prime Minister Zia also valued the meeting with Mr. Nojima very much. I hope that more and more business missions visit here so as to bring about concrete results shortly.

At the government level, as Japan Trade Fair ended, a Yen Loan Mission came to Bangladesh. The mission was led by a division director and composed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications. The mission had an annual consultation with the Government of Bangladesh, and exchanged their views on the prospect of Bangladesh economy, the macroeconomic policy, and the future yen loan matters.

This yen loan annual consultation and Mr. Nojima's visit to Bangladesh were very meaningful in the sense that they made the best use of the momentum of the success in the Prime Minister's visit to Japan, and showed the zeal and sincerity to our relationship with Bangladesh at both government and private levels. With such efforts, I expect to see greater development and growth in the Japan-Bangladesh relations.

(Past messages from Ambassador Horiguchi)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/eBulletin/index.html
(These messages were compiled in a single booklet.)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/eBulletin/pdf/makingabridge2.pdf

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[2] Upcoming Event on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* South Asian High School Invitation Program (Japan, Sep 21-30)
The South Asian High School Invitation Program, sponsored by the Government of Japan, was initiated in 2002 based on an idea of former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. This program aims to promote the participants' understanding of Japan.

This year's program features visit to Japanese high school, home stay, visit to Hiroshima and Kyoto, etc.

From Bangladesh, two boys, two girls, and one teacher of Udayan High School will take part in the program.

* Seminar on Water Resource Management (Dhaka, Oct 3)
LGED and JICA will jointly organize "Seminar on Master Plan of SSWRD (Small Scale Water Resource Development) in greater Mymensingh" on Monday, 3 October 2005 at 10AM at Seminar Room, RDEC Building, (Level-11), LGED Bhaban.

Mr. Md. Shahidul Hassan, Chief Engineer, LGED will be the chairperson. Mr. A. H. M. Abul Kashem, Secretary, Ministry of local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives; Mr. Akio ARAI, Resident Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency Bangladesh Office; and Mr. Md. Nurul Islam, Superintending Engineer (IWRM); and Ambassador Horiguchi will participate in the seminar.

Presentation on keynote paper will be delivered by Professor M. Fazlul Bari of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on water resources in Bangladesh, water resources management under NWPo and NWMP-Flood control to flood management and Participation of stakeholders, etc.

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* Seminar on Disaster Management (Dhaka, Sep 13)
Japanese Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB) and the Centre on Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) jointly held an international seminar on "A Comprehensive Disaster Management Plan for Bangladesh" on September 13 at CIRDAP Auditorium.

H.E. Mr. Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yousuf, Minister for Food and Disaster Management, was the Chief Guest. As the Special Guest, Ambassador Horiguchi said Japan and Bangladesh needed to further strengthen the framework of local, regional and global cooperation.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_disaster130905.html
(JUAAB's website)
http://www.juaab.org

* Japan Trade Fair 2005 (Dhaka, Sep 8 to 10)
Japan Trade Fair 2005 was held at the Sheraton Hotel from September 8 to 10, organized by the JBCCI and supported by the JETRO and the Embassy of Japan. It was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Morshed Khan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, Adviser, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and Executive Chairman of Board of Investment, and other distinguished guests. At the ceremony, Ambassador Horiguchi said he wished that the trade fair would help forge stronger links between businessmen of the two
countries both at individual and collective levels.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_tradefair080905.html

40 different business and service organizations exhibited their products. During the three-day fair, more than 12,000 people visited, and the total amount of business sales reached 17 crore (170 million) taka. Detailed information of the result is posted on the following website.
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/pdf/summaryJTF2005.pdf

JBCCI and Japanese Commerce and Industry Association in Dhaka (Shoo-Koo-Kai) organized the Japan-Bangladesh Business Forum 2005 on September 8. Presentations were made in areas such as Japanese ODA,
FDI in Bangladesh, business climate of Bangladesh, and some success stories in Japan-Bangladesh trades.
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/link_files/past_events.html

Among others, Japanese Commerce and Industry Association in Dhaka presented a paper entitled"Suggestions for Improvement of Business Climate in Bangladesh" with the aim of promoting further economic relationship between Japan and Bangladesh as well as improving the business climate from the viewpoint of the Japanese investors.
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/doc/SHOO-KOO-KAI-Suggestions.doc

Various cultural events were also organized by the Embassy of Japan. On September 9, Ikebana and Bonsai Exhibition and Competition; Judo, Kendo, and Karate Demonstrations; and Study in Japan Seminar were consecutively held. H.E. Barrister Nazmul Huda, the Honourable Communication Minister; Mr. Koji Nojima, the Chairman of the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Co-operation; and Mr. Matiur Rahman, President of JBCCI attended the prize distribution ceremony of Ikebana and Bonsai Exhibition and Competition. At the ceremony, Mr. Hidetoshi Ukita, Minister of the Embassy of Japan, said that the more we learn about each other's culture, history and tradition, the further we would understand each other and cooperate for mutual peace and progress.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_ikebanabonsai090905.html

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[4] JBCCI Member Report
"A Success Story of RMG Export to Japan (Part I)" Mr. Shahadat Musharraf Khan, Managing Director, Shirt Makers Ltd

* Introduction
Incorporated in October 1991, Shirt Makers Ltd started its commercial production in Feb-1992 in Jubilee Road, Chittagong, with an annual capacity of 720 thousand pieces of shirts and yearly turnover of USD 1.80 million, mainly catering for the European market. The company has expanded its production by setting up new production units in the name International Shirt Line Limited, Excel apparels Ltd, established offices in China, Hong Kong,Thailand and Belgium and with coordinated team work of its employees in sales, production and commercial activities has expanded its operation over the years and presently exporting 4.80 million pieces with a turnover of USD 19 million to 26 EU & Non-EU countries and Japan.

Presently establishing another manufacturing and export unit at Chittagong Export Processing Zone under the name Section Seven Ltd. with a targeted commercial production in Feb 2006, of annual export of 3.75 million pieces and a turnover of 17 million US dollars to cater for the North American, East European and the Japanese market.

* Start of trading with Japan
Our Japanese experience started in October 1999 as one Japanese trading company, on behalf of their Japanese principal, located in Thailand looking for shirt production unit visited us and we informed that we are not in a situation to cater Japanese market with our expertise as the quality standards are too high. Any way, we were requested to make couple of shirts with fabric and specifications given by them. The trading company wanted to have meeting at our Dhaka office within the next two days and discuss about business for European market.

At the end of the meeting at Dhaka office, while they were leaving, we handed over the requested samples. And the gentleman said "What is it?" We said, "These are the samples which you have requested two days
earlier". He came back to our showroom sat down for 20 minutes and then said, "Thank you. This is unbelievable." I said, "What happened, what is the big deal?" He explained for almost a year he has been
approaching many companies at Dhaka as well as Chittagong, providing fabrics, and also in some cases sample-making cost, but after repeated request, the samples were not there. After thanking us a lot, he bid
us good bye.

One month later, the trading office informed that their principal Thai Yamaki Co. Ltd, an offshore production house of Yamaki Co. Ltd with headquarter in Osaka, are interested to talk and insisted us to meet them in Thailand. During the meeting, the principal informed us that due to the long-term low cost structure they look at Bangladesh. They do not want to establish their own production unit as they have in Taiwan, China, and Thailand, and rather go on International PIP (partners in production) business of a limited form. Our first
Japanese trial contract clicked with a slogan 'quality first'. (To be continued)

(This report is an excerpt from the auther's presentation at Japan-Bangladesh Business Forum 2005 on September 8, 2005.)
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/pdf/Success_Story_RMG_Export.pdf
(Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry [JBCCI] Website)
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/jbcci/index.html

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