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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (8th issue / September 12, 2004)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh -
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[ Table of Contents ]
[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi
"Welcoming the Return of the Natives"
[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* South Asia Youth Invitation Program (Sep. 24-Oct. 5, Japan)
* Bangladesh Apparel Fair (Oct. 25-27, Tokyo)
[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Application for Development Scholarship Closed (Sep. 9, Dhaka)
* Japan's Debt Cancellation for 2004-2005 Confirmed (Sep. 8, Dhaka)
* Red Crescent Distributes Japan's Aid (Sep. 5, Tangail)
* First JBCCI General Meeting (Sep. 2, Dhaka)
* Ambassador's Speech on International Affairs (Aug. 30, Dhaka)
[4] Information
* ODA Budget (FY2005 Budget Request)
* Japan Video Topics Now on the Website!
[5] JBCCI Member Report
"My Experience of Doing Business with Japan
- A Brief Story of My Success - (Part 1)"
Mr Abdul Haque, Vice-President, JBCCI
(Managing Director, Haq's Bay Automobiles Ltd.)
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[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi
"Welcoming the Return of the Natives"
I heard that young Bangladeshis who studied and lived in foreign countries are coming back to their native land equipped with advanced learning and business techniques. Some of them take over charges at their family companies and expand their business, while others choose
to start new business ventures of their own.
This trend indicates a positive sign for the Bangladesh economy, which has grown at 5.5 percent last year. However, many economists think that the growth would have been more than 8.0 percent if it had included the economic affairs that are not reflected in the Government's statistics.
Despite occasional lapses in law and order and other business impediments, why are so many young Bangladeshis still coming back? I found three main reasons behind such returns.
First, thanks to the advancement of information and communication technology, it is becoming increasingly easier to operate business from Bangladesh with the rest of the world.
Second, after 9/11 terrorist attacks, it became difficult for foreign Muslims to stay in the United States due to frequent queries by the police and impediments in depositing large sums of money with their banks.
Lastly, following the 9/11 incident, the US immigration laws were amended, which made it more difficult for Muslims of foreign origin to enter universities. Besides, they have to return to their countries at the end of the one-year intern program following their graduation.
In the UK also, many graduates cannot find jobs that suit their areas of learning and expertise. Inspired by the success stories of their fellows who studied in the US and returned to Bangladesh, many young Bangladeshis from the UK are also following suit.
Although the al-Qaeda and the 9/11 events have done irreparable damage to the credibility of common Muslims the world over, it is welcome that young Bangladeshis are coming back with advanced knowledge, techniques, and capital to contribute to the economic development of their country. This way, as the Japanese saying goes, they can translate their misfortunes into advantages.
Japan will join hands with these young entrepreneurs to promote their business and investment ventures in the private sector. We will think about concrete measures to facilitate such cooperation with the help of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) in the near future.
(Ambassador's past messages are 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
* South Asia Youth Invitation Program (Sep. 24-Oct. 5, Japan )
>From September 24 to October 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will invite 40 young people from 7 South Asian countries. They will exchange views with students and citizens as well as cultivate and deepen their understanding of Japan.
>From Bangladesh, young representatives from Silpakara Academy, Dhaka Reporters' Unity, Japan Study Center of Dhaka University, Bangladesh Economic Association, Center for Policy Dialogue, and Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industy (JBCCI) will participate in the program.
The following website shows the last year's program.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/youth2003.html
* Bangladesh Apparel Fair (Oct. 25-27, Tokyo )
The Bangladesh Apparel Fair will be held from October 25 to 27 at JETRO Invest Japan Business Support Center (IBSC) in Tokyo. This event is for creating business opportunities in the apparel industries between Bangladesh and Japan through meeting potential suppliers and buyers. There will be a seminar and a fashion show on October 25 at 3:30 am. Individual company booths will be arranged from October 26 to 27 for business negotiations.
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[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Application for Development Scholarship Closed (Sep. 9, Dhaka )
The application for Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) 2005 was closed on September 9. 354 applications had been received, and 20 fellows will be selected from them toward next year.
http://www.jice.org/english/jds/bangladesh_org.html
Earlier on September 1, 4 JDS fellows in the first batch (from 2002 to 2004) made a presentation on their studies in primary education, urbanization, small and medium enterprises, and international relations.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/25pressjdsrm020904.html
* Japan's Debt Cancellation for 2004-2005 Confirmed (Sep. 8, Dhaka)
On September 8, 2004, the Government of Japan and the Government of Bangladesh exchanged Note Verbales on the Schedule of the Debt Cancellation for the fiscal year from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005 amounting to 16,824,122,135 Yen (Approximately Taka 897.6 crore or US$ 153.8 million).
For more information, please visit the following website.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/27pressdebt080904.html
* Red Crescent Distributes Japan 's Aid (Sep. 5, Tangail)
Ambassador Horiguchi observed relief distribution activities by Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) in Tangail on September 5 and praised their efforts for distributing Japan 's aid to the flood-affected people.
For more information, please visit the following websites.
(Press Release)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/26pressflood050904.html
(BDRCS)
http://www.bdrcs.org/
* First JBCCI General Meeting (Sep. 2, Dhaka)
The first General Meeting of Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) was held on September 2 at Sonargaon Hotel.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/25pressjbcci020904.html
Ambassador Horiguchi, a patron of JBCCI, made the following speech at the meeting.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/33sphjbcci020904.html
* Ambassador's Speech on International Affairs (Aug. 30, Dhaka )
On August 30, Ambassador Horiguchi addressed the National Defence College (NDC) on " Japan in International Affairs" as part of the National Defence Course.
Ambassador Horiguchi talked on three points: Japan 's traditional role in development assistance, Japan 's new role in peace keeping and building, and Japan 's policy towards East Asian cooperation. The full text is on the following website.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/31sphndc300804.html
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[4] Information
* ODA Budget (FY2005 Budget Request)
ODA Budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for Fiscal Year 2005 (April 2005 to March 2006) was requested and was posted on the following website.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/budget/2005.html
* Japan Video Topics Now on the Website!
Japan Video Topics (JVT) has been producing TV programs to contribute to public relations. Thanks to the recent development of the Internet applications, JVT began to stream movies. They offer a comprehensive view of Japanese culture, society, nature, science and technology.
http://web-japan.org/jvt/index.html
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[5] JBCCI Member Report
"My Experience of Doing Business with Japan
- A Brief Story of My Success - (Part 1)"
Mr. Abdul Haque, Vice-President, JBCCI
(Managing Director, Haq's Bay Automobiles Ltd.)
* How I encountered Japan
My experience of doing business with Japan dates back to the 1970s, when after the liberation of Bangladesh, I left a multinational company and got involved with Progoti Industries, the lone assembler of automobiles of that time.
I was a novice at that time but took the help of my friends to sell buses and trucks of Progoti as a commission agent. Success in small scale trading in those early days inspired me to go ahead and explore new opportunities.
It is understood to many that trading is about satisfying inner cravings of a trader, no matter how it is organized or structured, it is something about worldly needs of money.
In contrast, to work for meeting the needs of the society and country is essentially selfless. It is about solving the problems on the ground without thought of rewards.
This outlook led me to step into business to meet the needs of our production plants and the people.
The liberation war of Bangladesh devastated the economy severely. There were heavy casualties not only in terms of human lives but also in terms of machinery, transport equipment and vehicles.
A severe shortage of vehicles erupted due to the ravages of the liberation war. The showrooms of new cars of franchisee distributors in Dhaka and Chittagong were looted and the vehicles were destroyed.
As a start-up trader, I had humble means. I could not invest much money but nothing could prevent me from going ahead. I could source out the imports as personal effects by homecoming Bangladeshis from abroad.
The dominance of Japanese vehicles, which developed during the decade of 1960s replacing British and American cars, fascinated me toward Japanese cars.
* Potential of Japanese used automobiles in Bangladesh
On the emerging track of my business life, I moved to Japan as a traveller for business and particularly to source out vehicles. The techno-economic change in the Japanese society forced sales and exports of used cars.
Throughout the world, people found Japanese vehicles excellent in quality, economy, price and durability, technologically superior, user-friendly, dependable and safe. These cars are durable and economical and so could meet the demands of our customers.
Not only the users, but also our society benefited in many ways due to creation of new traders and employment in this sector. Many people were trained as technicians, and some of them went abroad particularly to the Middle Eastern countries with jobs.
Japanese used automobiles addressed needs throughout the world, particularly in the third world countries. Highly developed countries such as UK, New Zealand also took advantage of Japanese automobiles.
Although a small country in comparison with Germany and America, Japanese automobiles not only revolutionized the world but also ensured optimum quality. Millions of automobiles both for Japan 's domestic market and for export are being made in Japan.
I shifted to used automobiles from new automobiles realizing the needs of people of our country and their buying capacity.
Traditionally in Bangladesh, automobiles used to be very costly. Successive governments prefer to depend upon revenue at custom entry point thereby pushing people to buy very very old automobile at high price locally.
In the Bangladesh domestic market, even 20-year-old vehicles are sold and lower income group of people buy those cars. During last three decades, I always tried to think transport as a bloodline for economy, as policy advocate in different forums, chambers, civil society for
economic, safer and comfortable transportation for trade and family use.
In the 1990s, I persuaded the government to reduce taxes until and unless there is a development of sustainable and comfortable public transport system.
Because of high taxes, a large section of car owning people cannot buy the new cars, but they tend to buy very very old cars. I introduced cheaper versions of Corolla Van, which nobody thought would sell in the market, but on the contrary, people found that these vehicles are
of multiple utilities.
Hundreds and thousands of Corolla Vans came to Bangladesh as dependable private cars like Volkswagen for the public. I could explore the same out of extensive travel of Japan coming across with thinkers, automobile people etc.
During the three decades of 1970s, 80s, and 90s, I found dramatic changes in Japan. In late 70s and early-80s, notable changes took place in Japanese transport scenario. Tokyo, the city of heavy traffic jams of late-70s, turned into a city with growing number of commuting people through the mass communication systems.
Automation started in Japanese vehicles in late 80s and by now it has technologically advanced to a very high level with the trend to move forward towards further automation and computerization.
In the area of intercity transportation, Japan silently built Shinkansen - the bullet train. The emergence of bullet train was a historic event.
The techno-economic changes of early 80s in Japan coincided with growth of exports from our country to developed countries of Europe and the USA.
During this time, a heavy influx of Japanese used automobiles took place into our country. With practical non-existence of showrooms for used/reconditioned cars in late 70s, some showrooms were established by mid-80s.
By now, the progress is tremendous. There are more than 200 showrooms in both Dhaka and Chittagong. Japanese vehicles are cheapest in terms of real effective cost, which means such vehicles have value for money, I believe for that reason only these vehicles captured global market.
I feel a little proud because I could pioneer the change in Bangladesh, developing a consumer society for used cars from Japan.
(To be continued in the next issue.)
(Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) Website)
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/jbcci/index.html
(Haq's Bay Automobiles Website)
http://www.haqsbay.com
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Embassy of Japan
Plot No. 5 & 7, Dutabash Road,
Baridhara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Phone (880-2)881-0087
FAX (880-2)882-6737
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/
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