Japan not competing with China on Bangladesh: Japanese Ambassador

[eastwatch]

Japan not competing with China on Bangladesh, says its envoy -
bdnews24.com

Japan not competing with China on Bangladesh, says its envoy
Nurul Islam Hasib, bdnews24.com

Published: 2014-09-09 22:29:28.0 BdST Updated: 2014-09-10 00:45:15.0 BdST

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  Photo credit: Asif Mahmud Ove

Japan is not competing with China in Bangladesh, its envoy in Dhaka says, rather they play “complementary” role.

“Bangladesh is sitting on the driver’s seat. Japan is only sitting on the side. You (Bangladesh) are navigating everything,” Ambassador Shiro Sadoshima said belying a notion on Japan-Bangladesh relations.

He was talking with a group of journalists on Tuesday on the just-concluded visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe left Dhaka on Sep 7 ending a less than 22-hour sojourn that came only three months after his counterpart Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Tokyo in May.

He is the first Japanese PM to have come to Bangladesh in the last 14 years.

The visit generated a lot of speculations as Japan was not happy with the Jan 5 elections that returned the ruling Awami League to power for the second successive term amid opposition BNP boycott.

But later ambassador Sadoshima said they did not find any “constitutional flaw” and invited Hasina within three months.

During the landmark visit to Tokyo in May, both countries embarked on a “comprehensive partnership”.

Abe pledged to give $6 billion official assistance for the next four to five years to help Bangladesh develop its infrastructure.

Hasina also visited China, a week after her return from Japan, where the leadership also offered huge assistance for building a number of infrastructures.

China is pursuing for Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) cooperation in its bid to revive the ancient silk-road.

Japan launched a new concept of building Bay-of-Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) which Prime Minister Abe said would be the “centerpiece” of Japanese cooperation in Bangladesh.

A Tokyo-based Asian business review just before his visit commented that Japan was aiming to deepen its relations with Bangladesh ahead of China.

Photo credit: Asif Mahmud Ove

But Sadoshima said Bangladesh was always on “the driver’s seat”. “You can take advantage of initiatives proposed by other countries because you are sitting in the driver’s seat, not us,” he said.

“We are sitting on the side to help you guide the country,” he said. He said Japan’s concept was not meant to exclude any other concepts.

“…rather we would like to help you set up policies which would make your country have diversified industrial basis like richer nations which is your dream,” he said.

The ambassador said his head of government had been “very happy” during his entire visit. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali described the visit as a “milestone”.

Hasina announced during Abe's visit the withdrawal of Bangladesh’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council was in favour of “long-tested” friend Japan.

Japan was the first developed nation to recognise Bangladesh within two months of its independence.

It is the country’s largest aid donor as of today.

“We are moved by the decision (UN candidacy withdrawal),” the ambassador said on Tuesday, “We are grateful”. He said this decision had taken the bilateral relations “one step further”.

“We are ready to expand many areas of cooperation,” he said, including people-to-people exchange.

He said his PM had brought top Japanese CEOs with him and they learnt “how friendly the country is. But a lot of work remains to be done. You need a proper investment environment,” he said, referring to the shortage of infrastructure as well as power supply".

He said under their BIG-B concept they would help Bangladesh overcome the situation.

Improvement of infrastructure for industrial development, the creation of better environment for investments and the promotion of regional connectivity were the three dimensions of BIG-B.

This concept was to help Bangladesh diversify its industrial base, the ambassador said. “We want to make the country ‘a hub of production’ under the concept (BIG-B),” he said.

Japan has a grand design of combining the two oceanic regions – Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean – for more geo-political space to boost its economy.

The largest Bay in the world, Bay of Bengal forms the north-eastern part of the Indian Ocean. Bangladesh is located in the north of this Bay.

Photo credit: Asif Mahmud Ove

The ambassador again urged Dhaka to “look east” for expanding trade. He said Bangladesh had always been “successful” in connecting European and North American market and became number two ready-made garment exporter in the world. But this is not happening with Japan.

He said the basic orientation was with the West, not seriously with the East yet.

“But we want to take full advantage of the high-level visits,” he said, referring to the two Prime Ministers’ visit three months apart. “It has never happened before”.

Prime Minister Abe also termed the year 2014 “a memorable and special year” for Japan-Bangladesh relations.

 

[extra terrestrial]

The ambassador again urged Dhaka to “look east” for expanding trade. He said Bangladesh had always been “successful” in connecting European and North American market and became number two ready-made garment exporter in the world. But this is not happening with Japan.
He said the basic orientation was with the West, not seriously with the East yet.

That's an important remark he made! Time to focus on the East Asian markets, both Japan and China have granted duty/quota free access to a wide range of Bangladeshi products.

 

[kalu_miah]

We Bangladeshi's cannot choose between China and Japan, both are important countries for us to develop bilateral relations with. But considering the future ASEAN+2 bloc and Bangladesh's land border with this developing bloc, Japan holds preference for us, specially if India chooses the BRICS route and lean more towards China.

As for Hasina's nonelection, Japan did not like that election, but has accepted them and decided to work with this govt. to move forward with the bilateral relations between two countries and people. We appreciate this stand from Japanese govt. This is not a credit to Hasina govt. or Awami League, but rather shows admirable pragmatic attitude from Japanese govt., which will help both countries.

 

[eastwatch]

That's an important remark he made! Time to focus on the East Asian markets, both Japan and China have granted duty/quota free access to a wide range of Bangladeshi products.

Japan has an old culture and tradition. Usually, they do not like to trade with foreigners although they will trade with their country. So, how it is done? Usually, Japanese Sogo Sosha (conglomerate, multinational trading houses} companies do the job. They would establish offices in a foreign country, but will shun the local companies and would prefer to buy goods from manufacturing companies owned by other Japanese in that country and would export these to Japan.

This is how the Japanese maintain quality and timely delivery. Japanese trust only themselves. The word "Wa" has a deep meaning in the Japanese society. It means harmony, which they find the foreigners neither understand nor appreciate. This is why they would prefer to work among themselves.

The above phenomena say that even in a two way trade, almost only the Japanese companies would export as well as import. Japanese will only use the local chap labor. So, unless and until this basic structure is developed by the Japanese companies in BD, trade between the two countries may not flourish the way the two govts want it to be.

 

[scholseys]

Japan has an old culture and tradition. Usually, they do not like to trade with foreigners although they will trade with their country. So, how it is done? Usually, Japanese Sogo Sosha (conglomerate, multinational trading houses} companies do the job. They would establish offices in a foreign country, but will shun the local companies and would prefer to buy goods from manufacturing companies owned by other Japanese in that country and would export these to Japan.

This is how the Japanese maintain quality and timely delivery. Japanese trust only themselves. The word "Wa" has a deep meaning in the Japanese society. It means harmony, which they find the foreigners neither understand nor appreciate. This is why they would prefer to work among themselves.

The above phenomena say that even in a two way trade, almost only the Japanese companies would export as well as import. Japanese will only use the local chap labor. So, unless and until this basic structure is developed by the Japanese companies in BD, trade between the two countries may not flourish the way the two govts want it to be.

Some might call it xenophobia...

 

[arp2041]

Japan & China competing for BANGLADESH!!!! ?????

 

[extra terrestrial]

Japan has an old culture and tradition. Usually, they do not like to trade with foreigners although they will trade with their country. So, how it is done? Usually, Japanese Sogo Sosha (conglomerate, multinational trading houses} companies do the job. They would establish offices in a foreign country, but will shun the local companies and would prefer to buy goods from manufacturing companies owned by other Japanese in that country and would export these to Japan.

This is how the Japanese maintain quality and timely delivery. Japanese trust only themselves. The word "Wa" has a deep meaning in the Japanese society. It means harmony, which they find the foreigners neither understand nor appreciate. This is why they would prefer to work among themselves.

The above phenomena say that even in a two way trade, almost only the Japanese companies would export as well as import. Japanese will only use the local chap labor. So, unless and until this basic structure is developed by the Japanese companies in BD, trade between the two countries may not flourish the way the two govts want it to be.

Still, the investment will create employment and bring the much needed technology to the locales.

Besides, Japanese companies have extensive investments in India where the foreign investment procedures are far more rigid, there's no reason they can't do the same amount of investments in Bangladesh.

 

[eastwatch]

Some might call it xenophobia...

Yes, you may be right. This xenophobia is a common ingredient in the Japanese society. This was resulted by their govt policy of seclusion from other foreign countries for many centuries.

However, if we know their mind it is the easier for us to do trade and business with them. We will find they do not like to mix with other people. But, they will also not bother others, they will mind only their own business.

 

[eastwatch]

Still, the investment will create employment and bring the much needed technology to the locales.

Besides, Japanese companies have extensive investments in India where the foreign investment procedures are far more rigid, there's no reason they can't do the same amount of investments in Bangladesh.

The article below says not everything of Japanese investment is that rosy in India. Japanese are very cautious about the possible pitfalls in India. This article does not say, but, I have heard from an employee in a Japanese aluminum company that the Indian factory floors are full of its Jat Pat system, that disrupts a proper production management.

Japan Inc cautious on India despite premiers' love-in

 

[dray]

The article below says not everything of Japanese investment is that rosy in India. Japanese are very cautious about the
possible pitfalls in India. This article
does not say, but, I have heard from
an employee in a Japanese aluminum
company that the Indian factory floors
are full of its Jat Pat system, that
disrupts a proper production
management.



Japan Inc cautious on India despite premiers' love-in

That BS on the last part of your post was not required.

 

[scholseys]

The article below says not everything of Japanese investment is that rosy in India. Japanese are very cautious about the possible pitfalls in India. This article does not say, but, I have heard from an employee in a Japanese aluminum company that the Indian factory floors are full of its Jat Pat system, that disrupts a proper production management.

Japan Inc cautious on India despite premiers' love-in

It seems major investing nations such as Japan, the US and EU nations complain about the lack of infrastructure in India, thus they are reluctant to invest. "India's very weak infrastructure adds to the cost of making and moving things there," said Takashi Kodama, head of Asian economic research at Daiwa Institute of Research. This can be applied to Bangladesh as well, add political instability to the equation and it will appear bonkers for an investor in this nation.

The other day I was at a party, where an owner of a major construction firm was present (building/built major flyovers and bridges), he was talking about the recent building projects, about the delay of the Dhaka-Chittagong 4 lane highway. The government accepted the lowest bid, but the company on purpose submitted a nonviable bid so later they can fork out more money and hence the delays. Similar practices are taking place in major transportation projects, not to forget the rampant corruption in the process and the corrupt bureaucratic red tape.

 

[eastwatch]

Like every other country, BD is also trying to build very expensive and time consuming roads and highways for human traffic and goods transport. But, I believe, since BD has an extensive water bodies throughout the country, therefore, it should develop and connect these water bodies to transport goods to and from Chittagong port.

Check the map and you will see hundreds of miles of watery canal and rivers in BD. In most cases we will have to build a number of sluice gates to retain or discharge water. Water transport is a time tested way of delivering goods throughout the world wherever there are water bodies.

Instead of following other countries' examples we can set our own example. We must cut our clothes according to our own needs. So, we develop the water bodies and also build up the concrete infrastructures step by step.

 

[scholseys]

Like every other country, BD is also trying to build very expensive and time consuming roads and highways for human traffic and goods transport. But, I believe, since BD has an extensive water bodies throughout the country, therefore, it should develop and connect these water bodies to transport goods to and from Chittagong port.

Check the map and you will see hundreds of miles of watery canal and rivers in BD. In most cases we will have to build a number of sluice gates to retain or discharge water. Water transport is a time tested way of delivering goods throughout the world wherever there are water bodies.

Instead of following other countries' examples we can set our own example. We must cut our clothes according to our own needs. So, we develop the water bodies and also build up the concrete infrastructures step by step.

During the pre-election protest, we used the Narayangang port for shipment of our goods. The waterways are fairly well..

 

[extra terrestrial]

Like every other country, BD is also trying to build very expensive and time consuming roads and highways for human traffic and goods transport. But, I believe, since BD has an extensive water bodies throughout the country, therefore, it should develop and connect these water bodies to transport goods to and from Chittagong port.

Check the map and you will see hundreds of miles of watery canal and rivers in BD. In most cases we will have to build a number of sluice gates to retain or discharge water. Water transport is a time tested way of delivering goods throughout the world wherever there are water bodies.

Instead of following other countries' examples we can set our own example. We must cut our clothes according to our own needs. So, we develop the water bodies and also build up the concrete infrastructures step by step.

This is discussed quite often in the media. The waterways are shrinking gradually, a large part of it has become seasonal, could be used only during the wet seasons.

Though I'm not much knowledgeable about it, but dredging of the waterways is quite expensive and involves huge corruption. The capital dredging of Karnaphuli river which began in 2011, is still ongoing and brought huge allegations of corruption in light that led to the departure of the chief contractor.

 

[eastwatch]

This is discussed quite often in the media. The waterways are shrinking gradually, a large part of it has become seasonal, could be used only during the wet seasons.

Though I'm not much knowledgeable about it, but dredging of the waterways is quite expensive and involves huge corruption. The capital dredging of Karnaphuli river which began in 2011, is still ongoing and brought huge allegations of corruption in light that led to the departure of the chief contractor.

Well, corruption is everywhere in BD. So, we cannot probably sit idle and do nothing about the use of less expensive waterway transportation of goods. BD can survey the entire country to build quite a few river ports like the Narayanganj one which will be connected to the port through large rivers.