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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (39th issue / Nov 27, 2005)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh -
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[Table of Contents]
[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Forum"
[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Japanese Cultural Fair (Dec 2 in Chittagong, Dec 4 in Rangamati)
* Japan-Bangladesh Business Forum (Dec 3, Chittagong)
* Review Seminar on Strengthening Primary Teacher Training
(Dec 6, Mymensingh)
* Bangladesh Investment Seminar (Dec 7, Tokyo)
* Signing Ceremony for Japan-Bangladesh Friendship School
(Dec 11, Dhaka)
[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Inauguration of Rural Development Engineering Centre of LGED
(Nov 22, Dhaka)
* Member of the Japan's House of Councillors Visited Dhaka
(Nov 20 to 21)
[4] Information
* Closed Days of the Embassy of Japan in 2006
[5] ICDDR,B's Special Report (1)
"How Japan's contribution has assisted ICDDR,B in the past?"
(Dr. Ishtiaque Zaman, Head, External Relations & Institutional
Development, Executive Director's Division, ICDDR,B)
[6] Editor's Note
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[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Forum"
"Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Implementation Forum" was held with the attendance of the Government of Bangladesh and development partners (countries and international organizations among others) from 15 to 17 November. This forum was titled "Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF)" till last year, but Bangladeshi Government decided to make it a forum for the implementation of the "Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)," which had been finalized after a few years' preparations.
At the BDF last year, Bangladeshi Government was not able to show many improvements despite its promise at the previous year's BDF. It drew dissatisfaction and severe criticism by some donor countries, which seemed to have made Bangladeshi Government initially think that some small donors were always criticizing it in spite of the small amount of aid they extended. Therefore, Bangladeshi Government wanted to abolish BDF and instead, hold a forum every alternative year, saying that it cannot make meaningful progress within a year.
We pointed out that Bangladeshi Government needs to continue consultations with all the donors for the following reasons: donors criticize the government because they genuinely hope for development of Bangladesh as effectively as possible; the amount of their aid is high compared to their GNPs, which shows their clear willingness for Bangladesh's development; Bangladesh needs foreign assistance regardless of its size for the time being in order to take a leap from the current development level; in particular, Bangladeshi Government should not treat small donor countries lightly since they, if united, have a strong voice at boards of WB and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In addition, we strongly insisted that a forum should be held every year, and I directly urged Finance and Planning Minister, H.E. Mr. Saifur Rahman, to do so. National budget is made every year. Situations surrounding development are always changing and consultations between Bangladeshi Government and donors should be held at least once a year in order to secure its effectiveness. Many officers at concerned departments of donor countries and international organizations shift every two to three years. As a result, it hinders effective takeover if a forum is to be held every alternative year.
In the case of Japan, the local taskforce is divided into 12 sectors and sub-sectors, which runimplementations, improvements and publicity of cooperation projects on a yearly basis. Therefore, we need to have consultations with Bangladeshi Government to summarize and appraise those activities every year.
At the same time, we appealed to the donors' side for more constructive criticism against Bangladeshi Government. Also, we had to be very careful in order not to make a gap between major donors and smaller donors. Because, at that time, four major donors (WB, ADB, UK and Japan) were deepening cooperation, which was per se a very welcoming progress.
After discussion among donors, Chief Representative of USAID, Mr. Gene George, was elected as new chairperson of the Local Consultative Group (LCG), and with his leadership, cooperation among donors became well coordinated. At the same time, we held frequent consultations with Bangladeshi Government. The new PRS Implementation Forum was thus realized.
After the Hon'ble Prime Minister Khaleda Zia inaugurated the forum, intensive discussion was held at five individual sessions; PRSP implementation; social development; trade, investment and private sector development; good governance; and aid harmonization and aid effectiveness. Closing the forum, Bangladesh Government officially announced that it will host a forum every year and also evolved an action plan for the coming year in order to actively get engaged in PRS implementation.
The action plan has 11 agendas such as the establishment of a joint committee by the Government and donors, the allocation of budget along with PRS, the implementation of procurement law, civil service reforms, policy review on small and medium scale enterprises and on women empowerment.
This action plan was beyond donors' initial expectations. It can be said that donors' zeal encouraged the Government. I intend to keep our efforts going in order to facilitate cooperation among donors with great energy and honest enthusiasm so that Bangladesh Government implements this action plan one after another.
(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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* Japanese Cultural Fair (Dec 2 in Chittagong, Dec 4 in Rangamati)
Nippon Academy and the Embassy of Japan will organize Japanese Cultural Fair on December 2 in Chittagong and on December 4 in Rangamati.
The Cultural Fair on December 2 will be held from 9:45am to 4pm at the Kakoli Hall of Hotel St. Martin, Agrabad Commercial Area, Chittagong. The programme is as follows:
09:45 Guests take seat
10:00 Ikabana Exhibition
11:30 Japanese Language Speech Contest
12:00 Prize Distribution
14:30 Seminar on Study in Japan
16:00 Japanese Film Show
The Cultural Fair on December 4 will be held from 1:45 to 5:30pm atthe Tribal Cultural Institute Hall, Rangamati. The programme is as follows:
13:45 Guests take seat
14:00 Welcome address
14:10 Seminar on Study in Japan
15:30 Japanese Film Show
17:30 Vote of thanks and refreshment
For more information, please contact the Cultural Division of the Embassy of Japan.
TEL: 8810087
FAX: 8826737
information@embjp.accesstel.net
* Japan-Bangladesh Business Forum (Dec 3, Chittagong)
Nippon Academy and the Embassy of Japan will organize Japan-Bangladesh Business Forum on December 3 from 9:45am to 12:50pm at the Kakoli Hall of Hotel St. Martin, Agrabad Commercial Area, Chittagong. The program
is as follows:
09:45 Guests take seat
10:00 Welcome address
10:10 Address by Ambassador Horiguchi
10:30 Open discussion
12:30 Closing remarks
12:40 Vote of thanks
12:50 Luncheon
For more information, please contact the Cultural Division of the
Embassy of Japan.
TEL: 8810087
FAX: 8826737
information@embjp.accesstel.net
* Review Seminar on Strengthening Primary Teacher Training (Dec 6, Mymensingh)
A Review Seminar on Strengthening Primary Teacher Training on Science and Mathematics will be organized at NAPE on December 6. Ambassador Horiguchi and Mr. A.K.M. Shamsuddin, Secretary, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and other distinguished guests will be present.
This project has been implemented by 11 donors including Japan in order to strengthen primary education in Bangladesh. Japan has been providing technical assistance of teacher training, curriculum improvement, evaluation scheme and development of educational package on science and mathematics.
* Bangladesh Investment Seminar (Dec 7, Tokyo)
Bangladesh Investment Seminar will be held on December 7 from 10am to 12pm at the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized by the Japan-Bangladesh Joint Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBJCCEC), UNIDO and the Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan.
Discussion will be held in English and simultaneous translation into Japanese will be available (no translation service from Japanese into English). The program is as follows:
10:00 Opening and welcome remarks
10:17 Presentations and Q&A
11:50 Closing remark
The deadline for application to participate in this seminar is December 2. For more information, please contact Mr. Ando at JBJCCEC.
Tel: 81-(0)3-3282-7604
Fax: 81-(0)3-3216-6497
* Signing Ceremony for Japan-Bangladesh Friendship School (Dec 11, Dhaka)
A signing ceremony of the project for development of Japan-Bangladesh Friendship School will be held on December 11 at the Embassy of Japan. Ambassador Horiguichi and Dr. Niaz Ahmed Choudhury, representative of the Society for Advancement of Rural Areas (SARA) will be present.
SARA has been engaged in training programmes with the aim to enhance education and employment of women in rural areas in Sylhet. It is going to add facility to accommodate 120 middle school level students with the assistance of Japanese Government's Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Grant for Human Security Projects (GGHSP).
Acknowledging Japanese assistance, SARA named the school Japan-Bangladesh Friendship School. The late Mr. Yoshiro Kawashima, the then President at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, organized a fund raising for the training programme.
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* Inauguration of Rural Development Engineering Centre of LGED (Nov 22, Dhaka)
H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia inaugurated the newly constructed Rural Development Engineering Centre RDEC of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) on November 22. H.E. Mr. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Minister for LGRD & Cooperatives, H.E. Mr. Ziaul Haque Zia, State Minister for LGRD & Cooperatives, Ambassador Horiguchi and other distinguished guests were present.
The construction of RDEC building was supported by Japan's ODA loan, and JICA Experts were also dispatched for its capacity building. RDEC is a symbol of cooperation between the government of Bangladesh and Japan.
http://www.jica.go.jp/bangladesh/activities/02_1_3.html
Ambassador Horiguchi made a following speech:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_rdec221105.html
* Member of the Japan's House of Councillors Visited Dhaka (Nov 20 to 21)
Mr. Masaaki Taniai, Member of the House of Councillors, visited Dhaka from 20 to 21 November. He called on H.E. Mr. Shahjahan Siraj, Minister for Textile and Jute, and H.E. Mr. Alhaj Altsf Hossain Chowdhury, Minister for Commerce. The Embassy of Japan had an exclusive interview with Mr. Taniai, which will be delivered to you on next E-Bulletin.
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[4] Information
* Closed Days of the Embassy in 2006
The Embassy of Japan will be closed (in addition to Fridays and Saturdays) in the year of 2006 as follows:
January 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 and 12
March 26
May 11
August 16
October 24, 25 and 26
December 31
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[5] ICDDR,B's Special Report (1)
"How Japan's contribution has assisted ICDDR,B in the past?" (Dr. Ishtiaque Zaman, Head, External Relations & Institutional Development, Executive Director's Division, ICDDR,B)
Japan has invested directly and substantially in the past in research work of International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) that has benefited poor people. The Centre's work is consistent with Japan's support for the generation of new health knowledge of global or regional significance, and for building research capacity in developing countries for pro-poor health research. Few countries have such a long association with ICDDR,B and its predecessors, the Cholera Research Laboratory (CRL) and the Pakistan-SEATO CRL, as does Japan. Scientific collaboration began even earlier, but Japan began to provide annual funds to ICDDR,B in 1980 and was a regular contributor to the ICDDRB since then. Japan's interest in the Centre has grown over the years
Japan was one of the founding sponsors of ICDDR,B and its financial contribution increased considerably since 1990s. In 1994, the annual Japanese contribution was raised by some 80% to US$ 680,000, approximately 6.5% of the Centre's total budget. Since then, this dollar level of commitment was maintained and in 2000, Japan gave a record amount of US$1.78 million to ICDDR,B. This annual contribution included the usual core contribution as well as US$1 million to the Centre's Hospital Endowment Fund. In year 2001, its contribution was
at US$980,000.
Since its internationalization in 1978, Japan has made major investments in the Centre. These investments should be protected and capitalized upon, particularly now at a time when the institution is acknowledged to be highly productive and to be making extremely important contributions to the health and well-being of billions of people worldwide.
The Centre serves as a model of collaboration with government and people of Bangladesh in a way that respects and supports each other and ultimately benefits the people of Bangladesh and other countries. The Centre successfully transitioned from a laboratory, highly focused on cholera, to a full-fledged comprehensive health centre of research, service and training. Furthermore, it has shown how an institution with vision, purpose and principles can thrive through changes in governments, donor priorities, and senior staff. In short, it has matured into a world-class institution.
In addition to the financial support to the Centre, Japan has also contributed to the centre in terms of joint scientific projects. More than 25 Japanese scientists have participated in the Centre's scientific projects during the last decade. These collaborations have benefited the Centre, and we believe the Japanese scientists have also benefited through this experience in Bangladesh.
ICDDR,B
http://www.icddrb.org---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[6] Editor's Note
I saw a beautiful landmark on the street near the Embassy. The sculpture looked like flying cranes. As you may know, cranes are very much appreciated and one of our customs is to make thousands of paper cranes, wishing for peace. I do not know what the inspiration of the sculpture is based on, but to me it looked praying for the betterment of Bangladesh.
Editor, Saori Nagase
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