[🇧🇩] Strategic Aspect of Bangla-Japan Relation

[Saif]

Prof Yunus seeks JICA’s greater support for MIDI

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday called upon the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to bolster its support for the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Development Initiative (MIDI), aiming to transform the region into a vital engine for Bangladesh’s future economic g

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Prof Yunus seeks JICA’s greater support for MIDI
Moheshkhali-Matarbari region seen as pivotal engine for future economic growth

Published :
May 29, 2025 18:19
Updated :
May 29, 2025 18:19

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday called upon the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to bolster its support for the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Development Initiative (MIDI), aiming to transform the region into a vital engine for Bangladesh’s future economic growth.

The request was made during a meeting with JICA President Dr Tanaka Akihiko on the sidelines of the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia, held at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, reports UNB.

“The MIDI region represents the future of Bangladesh,” Prof Yunus said. “With access to the Bay of Bengal, we are developing deep-sea ports, highways, and railway links to connect the MIDI region with Nepal, Bhutan, and other parts of South Asia.”

JICA initially proposed the development of a deep-sea port at Matarbari. The interim government, under Prof Yunus’ leadership, is now formulating a comprehensive master plan to transform the entire MIDI region into a hub for ports, logistics, fishing, energy and power.

“Our vision includes building a megacity in the region,” Prof Yunus added, noting that airports are also being upgraded to accommodate increased travel demands.

Dr Tanaka reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to the MIDI development but emphasised the need for accelerated decision-making to expedite project implementation.

In response, Prof Yunus announced plans to appoint a senior official to oversee MIDI projects and coordinate efforts with JICA and other potential foreign investors.

The Chief Adviser also revealed plans to establish free trade zones within the MIDI area, inviting foreign investors to set up manufacturing plants aimed at export markets.

Besides, the government intends to create an exclusive fisheries zone in the region, enabling large fishing vessels to operate.

“We need to engage in deep-sea fishing,” Prof Yunus explained. “Currently, fishing vessels from neighbouring countries exploit these waters, while our trawlers are too small for deep-sea operations. By developing our capabilities, we can process the catch in the fisheries zone for both export and domestic consumption.”

Dr Tanaka said this was possibly the first time he had heard a Bangladeshi leader discuss deep-sea fishing initiatives.

The two leaders also discussed Bangladesh’s reform agenda following the July uprisings, the country’s democratic transition, and the Interim Government’s anti-corruption efforts.

Prof Yunus confirmed that general elections are scheduled to be held between December and June, after which he plans to return to his previous work once an elected government assumes office.

The Rohingya crisis was also discussed, with the Chief Adviser seeking increased JICA’s support for humanitarian responses.

Dr Tanaka expressed JICA’s willingness to participate in international efforts addressing the Rohingya crisis.​

 

[Saif]

Japan to recruit 1,00,000 Bangladeshi workers in 5yrs

Japanese authorities and businesses on Thursday announced plans to recruit at least 1,00,000 workers from Bangladesh in the next five years to meet the country’s growing labourers’ shortage.

www.newagebd.net

Japan to recruit 1,00,000 Bangladeshi workers in 5yrs
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Tokyo, Japan 29 May, 2025, 20:01

The national flags of Bangladesh and Japan. | File photo

Japanese authorities and businesses on Thursday announced plans to recruit at least 1,00,000 workers from Bangladesh in the next five years to meet the country’s growing labourers’ shortage.

Speaking at a seminar titled, ‘Bangladesh seminar on human resources’, chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said that the interim government of Bangladesh would do everything in its capacity to create the job opportunities for Bangladeshis in Japan.

‘This is going to be the most exciting day for me, the most inspiring day. This will open the door for Bangladeshis not to only work but to know Japan,’ he said.

The chief adviser witnessed the signing of two Memorandum of Under standings – first between Bangladesh’s Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training and Kaicom Dream Street, a Japan-Bangladesh joint venture, and second among Bangladesh’s BMET and Japan’s National Business Support Combined Cooperatives, a business federation with over 65 receiving companies operating in the country, and Japan Bangla Bridge Recruiting Agency at the event organised in Toshi Kaikan conference hall in Tokyo.

Yunus noted that Bangladesh was a country of 180 million people, and half of them were under 27. The government’s job was to open the door for them.

Mitsuru Matsushita, representative director of supervising organisation Shizuoka Workplace Environment Improvement Cooperative, said that many Japanese companies were facing enquiries about Bangladeshis, and he believed the trend would continue.

‘Bangladeshi talents hold great potential. It is our duty to nurture their talent,’ he said.

Mikio Kesagayama, chairman of NBCC, recalled that about 14 years ago, Professor Yunus came to Japan and was telling stories about helping women through microcredit.

‘Our Federation looks to Bangladesh for young and capable labour. They can contribute to the development of both Bangladesh and Japan. In the coming five years, we are prepared to welcome more than 1,00,000 Bangladeshi workers,’ he said.

Sharing the future plan on the recruitment of Bangladeshis in the Japanese industries, Miki Watanabe, president of Watami Group, said that a school, they established in Bangladesh, trained 1,500 students every year, and they were then planning to raise the number to 3,000.

‘With technical education in Bangladesh, they can enter the job market in Japan,’ he said.

Hiroaki Yagi, chairman of Japan International Trainee and Skilled Worker Cooperation Organisation, shared the potential and challenges for Bangladeshis in the Japanese labour market.

He said that the number of language teachers in Bangladesh was still short.

Niki Hirobumi, state minister of the ministry of health, labour and welfare in Japan, said that his country was facing a declining population and thus would need the support of Bangladeshi workforce.

‘This can be promising not only for Bangladesh but also for Japan,’ he said.

In his welcome speech, Daud Ali, Bangladesh ambassador to Japan, said that by 2040, the Japanese labour shortage could reach 11 million, and Bangladesh could take the opportunity to send more skilled workers.

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain, chief adviser’s special envoy Lutfey Siddiqi and principal coordinator on SDG affairs Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting.​

 

[Saif]

Yunus, Japanese PM to hold talks tomorrow eyeing greater cooperation

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru are set to hold bilateral talks tomorrow which will outline areas of cooperation to further strengthen the relations between the two friendly nations

www.thedailystar.net

Yunus, Japanese PM to hold talks tomorrow eyeing greater cooperation

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru are set to hold bilateral talks tomorrow which will outline areas of cooperation to further strengthen the relations between the two friendly nations.

Ahead of the meeting, Prof Yunus said he is looking forward to his meeting with the Japanese prime minister to expand the ongoing collaboration between the two countries in different sectors.

"There are so many areas of collaboration between Japan and Bangladesh; I want to build on this," the chief adviser said when President and CEO of Nikkei Inc. Tsuyoshi Hasebe called on him at the Imperial Hotel.

Japan said PM Ishiba Shigeru's bilateral talks with Prof Yunus would render a "precious opportunity" for Japan to indicate its further support to the transition efforts of the chief adviser and his interim government.

Prof Yunus and Shigeru Ishiba will discuss "strategic bilateral" issues to strengthen the relations on all fronts.

"The meeting will discuss various strategic bilateral issues between Bangladesh and Japan – trade and investment, cooperation in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, human resources development," said Acting Foreign Secretary Md Ruhul Alam Siddique.

Prior to the meeting, the chief adviser will be given a red carpet reception and a guard of honour, he said.

The chief adviser is scheduled to arrive at Prime Minister's Office of Japan at 10:00am (Tokyo time).

"The main focus of this visit is budgetary support," Ruhul said, adding that a total of seven MoUs are likely to be signed during the official visit of the chief adviser.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Tuesday said Bangladesh is expecting to get $500 million budgetary supports from Japan in addition to $250 million for the country's railway sector with likely support in other areas as the two countries eye to further strengthen relations.

Bangladesh has sought $1 billion from Japan in the form of "soft loan", and the announcement will come formally after the bilateral talks between the two leaders and an exchange of notes will be signed.​

 

[Bilal9]

Japan to recruit 1,00,000 Bangladeshi workers in 5yrs

Japanese authorities and businesses on Thursday announced plans to recruit at least 1,00,000 workers from Bangladesh in the next five years to meet the country’s growing labourers’ shortage.

www.newagebd.net

Japan to recruit 1,00,000 Bangladeshi workers in 5yrs
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Tokyo, Japan 29 May, 2025, 20:01

View attachment 17971
The national flags of Bangladesh and Japan. | File photo

Japanese authorities and businesses on Thursday announced plans to recruit at least 1,00,000 workers from Bangladesh in the next five years to meet the country’s growing labourers’ shortage.

Speaking at a seminar titled, ‘Bangladesh seminar on human resources’, chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said that the interim government of Bangladesh would do everything in its capacity to create the job opportunities for Bangladeshis in Japan.

‘This is going to be the most exciting day for me, the most inspiring day. This will open the door for Bangladeshis not to only work but to know Japan,’ he said.

The chief adviser witnessed the signing of two Memorandum of Under standings – first between Bangladesh’s Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training and Kaicom Dream Street, a Japan-Bangladesh joint venture, and second among Bangladesh’s BMET and Japan’s National Business Support Combined Cooperatives, a business federation with over 65 receiving companies operating in the country, and Japan Bangla Bridge Recruiting Agency at the event organised in Toshi Kaikan conference hall in Tokyo.

Yunus noted that Bangladesh was a country of 180 million people, and half of them were under 27. The government’s job was to open the door for them.

Mitsuru Matsushita, representative director of supervising organisation Shizuoka Workplace Environment Improvement Cooperative, said that many Japanese companies were facing enquiries about Bangladeshis, and he believed the trend would continue.

‘Bangladeshi talents hold great potential. It is our duty to nurture their talent,’ he said.

Mikio Kesagayama, chairman of NBCC, recalled that about 14 years ago, Professor Yunus came to Japan and was telling stories about helping women through microcredit.

‘Our Federation looks to Bangladesh for young and capable labour. They can contribute to the development of both Bangladesh and Japan. In the coming five years, we are prepared to welcome more than 1,00,000 Bangladeshi workers,’ he said.

Sharing the future plan on the recruitment of Bangladeshis in the Japanese industries, Miki Watanabe, president of Watami Group, said that a school, they established in Bangladesh, trained 1,500 students every year, and they were then planning to raise the number to 3,000.

‘With technical education in Bangladesh, they can enter the job market in Japan,’ he said.

Hiroaki Yagi, chairman of Japan International Trainee and Skilled Worker Cooperation Organisation, shared the potential and challenges for Bangladeshis in the Japanese labour market.

He said that the number of language teachers in Bangladesh was still short.

Niki Hirobumi, state minister of the ministry of health, labour and welfare in Japan, said that his country was facing a declining population and thus would need the support of Bangladeshi workforce.

‘This can be promising not only for Bangladesh but also for Japan,’ he said.

In his welcome speech, Daud Ali, Bangladesh ambassador to Japan, said that by 2040, the Japanese labour shortage could reach 11 million, and Bangladesh could take the opportunity to send more skilled workers.

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain, chief adviser’s special envoy Lutfey Siddiqi and principal coordinator on SDG affairs Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting.​

Al-hamdu-lillah!

Best news I have heard all week.

 

[Saif]

Japan, Bangladesh to sign economic partnership deal by year-end: PM Ishiba

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced that Bangladesh, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, is entering a new era of transformation. During a bilateral meeting with Dr Yunus in Tokyo, Ishiba confirmed that the two friendly nations will finalise an Eco

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Japan, Bangladesh to sign economic partnership deal by year-end: PM Ishiba

FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
May 30, 2025 22:26
Updated :
May 30, 2025 22:26

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced that Bangladesh, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, is entering a new era of transformation.

During a bilateral meeting with Dr Yunus in Tokyo, Ishiba confirmed that the two friendly nations will finalise an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) by the end of the year to boost trade and investment, according to local media.

In a joint statement, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic ties and strengthening strategic cooperation. Ishiba praised Bangladesh’s ongoing democratic transition and assured continued Japanese support. Dr Yunus expressed gratitude for Japan’s unwavering assistance during the interim government's reform efforts.

Dr Yunus also sought Japanese support for key infrastructure projects, including expressways, bridges, and energy terminals, and called for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh’s high-tech and industrial sectors.

The leaders also discussed regional geopolitics and the Rohingya crisis, with Dr Yunus urging Japan to intensify efforts for a lasting solution. Prime Minister Ishiba expressed admiration for Dr Yunus’s global contributions to poverty alleviation and indicated his interest in visiting Bangladesh soon.​

 

[Saif]

CA urges Japanese firms to invest in Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday called upon Japanese companies to invest in Bangladesh and help its economic recovery and rebuilding efforts. “Today, we are in a situation when we need your support most. We have come a long way. The rest of the journey should be of doing thi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

CA urges Japanese firms to invest in Bangladesh

Published :
May 30, 2025 20:19
Updated :
May 30, 2025 20:26

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday called upon Japanese companies to invest in Bangladesh and help its economic recovery and rebuilding efforts.

“Today, we are in a situation when we need your support most. We have come a long way. The rest of the journey should be of doing things together with fun and enjoyment,” he told a roundtable in Tokyo.

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) arranged the meeting at its headquarters, reports BSS.

Top executives of Japanese companies in Bangladesh were present at the meeting with significant business interests.

Prof Yunus said during the past 16 years, everything Bangladesh had was demolished in many ways.

“Our financial situation brought to negative situation, rather than zero. Banking system collapsed... our foreign exchange reserve went down, administrative and police system collapsed. That’s our starting point,” he said.

The Chief Adviser said the past ten months of his interim government’s journey have been about building things piece by piece.

“That’s why the support of the government of Japan and the business people of Japan will be extremely helpful,” he said.

Prof Yunus said his government’s commitment is to create a new Bangladesh because there were so many bad things in the old Bangladesh.

“We want to keep a distance from old Bangladesh. So, that’s our journey - to create a new Bangladesh. In that journey, you would be our friends and partners and you will be inspiring us. Wonderful to see you all. It is something that reassures us,” he told the Japanese entrepreneurs.

Prof Yunus said it is an opportunity to build the nation, leaving behind all the terrible things that happened in the past.

“We hope that will be a matter of the past... we have all the terrible experience, and we want to keep it as a thing of the past. We want to lay a foundation of a new future,” he said.

The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh got a “sign of life” with the departure of the autocratic regime and sought a “breathing space” to fix the mess.

He said the shortcomings that Bangladesh has now would soon be over.

Norihiko Ishiguro, JETRO Chairman & CEO, in his opening remarks at the event, said Bangladesh has seen remarkable growth and investment opportunities in recent years.

Fumiya Kokubu, Chairman of the Japan Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) and Director, Member of the Board, and Executive Corporate Advisor, Marubeni Corporation, said 85 percent of Japanese companies having business in Bangladesh hope the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would be signed this year.

He called for bringing reform tax regulations to remove barriers for investors in Bangladesh.

Shinichi Saida, Ambassador of Japan in Bangladesh, said the most significant item that the Interim Government protected was the economy; no project was halted, and no businesses were suspended.

Shingo Ueno, CEO of Sumitomo Corporation; Mitsuru Izumo, CEO of Euglena Co., Ltd; Steven Winn, Chief Global Strategist of JERA; Kazunori Ogawa, Senior Managing Director of JBIC; Shigeyoshi Onoda, President of ONODA Inc.; Kazuya Nakajo, Executive Vice President of JETRO; and Mayumi Murayama, Executive Vice President of IDE-JETRO, spoke, among others, in the roundtable discussion.

Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy of the Chief Adviser, delivered the concluding statement.​

 

[Saif]

Japan provides $1.063b for budget support, railways upgrade

Japan agrees to lend Bangladesh US$1.063 billion mainly for bankrolling budget and railway upgrade, summit talks in Tokyo Friday yielded several accords of cooperation in various fields. Of the total amount, as agreed, $418 million will come as a budget-support credit, $641 million for upg

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BD-JAPAN SUMMIT TALKS YIELD SEVERAL COOP ACCORDS
Japan provides $1.063b for budget support, railways upgrade

FE REPORT
Published :
May 31, 2025 00:19
Updated :
May 31, 2025 00:19

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru shake hands at a bilateral meeting in Tokyo on Friday.— PID

Japan agrees to lend Bangladesh US$1.063 billion mainly for bankrolling budget and railway upgrade, summit talks in Tokyo Friday yielded several accords of cooperation in various fields.

Of the total amount, as agreed, $418 million will come as a budget-support credit, $641 million for upgrading the Joydevpur-Ishwardi section into a dual-gauge double-track railway and another $4.2 million as grants for scholarships.

The aid pledges were carried in exchange of notes following the meeting between the two countries. The visiting head of interim government of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, and his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru, led their respective sides at the talks.

The amount of 418 million dollars is being provided as Development Policy Loan for Bangladesh's economic reforms and climate resilience, said a spokesperson for the CA Office.

During the bilateral meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitments to the Strategic Partnership between the two Asian nations.

They also renewed their shared vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) to ensure peace, stability and shared prosperity for all.

Discussing international and regional matters of common concern, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation for ensuring peace and stability in the region and beyond, upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Both sides also affirmed their support to multilateralism based on the rule of law, as well as to democracy.

Prime Minister Ishiba reaffirmed Japan's full support to the Interim Government of Bangladesh led by Professor Yunus "in its nation-building efforts, its reform initiatives and its endeavour towards a peaceful transition in Bangladesh", says a joint press statement issued after the meeting.

Professor Yunus expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for its continued support to foster sustainable economic growth and development in Bangladesh in advancing Japan-Bangladesh bilateral relations, especially for the projects under the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) Initiative, including Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI).

In this regard, both sides welcomed the signing of the exchange of notes for the Development Policy Loan for Economic Reform and Strengthening Climate Change Resilience, and the Loan for the Project for the construction of dual-gauge double-line rail in Joydebpur-Ishurdi section.

Both sides also welcomed the signing of MoUs and MoC, including ones on One Stop Service (OSS) system in BIDA, installation of prepaid gas meter, the setting up factory for battery-run cycles, the launch of a pilot project for information security, and land agreements with the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ), to promote Japanese investment in Bangladesh.

They underscored concluding the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) "in mutually beneficial way" and instructed their respective ministries and negotiating teams to accelerate negotiations to reach an agreement at the earliest.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthening political and security cooperation, including early delivery of five patrol boats to Bangladesh Navy under Japan's Official Security Assistance (OSA).

They welcomed two governments' consensus in principle on the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology, and expressed their hope for early conclusion of the pact.

They discussed ways of promoting people-to-people exchanges, including skilled human resources, and concurred in strengthening cultural ties between the two Asian countries.

In this regard, Professor Yunus thanked Prime Minister Ishiba for Japan's continued support for human-resource development in Bangladesh, including the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship. Prime Minister Ishiba commended Bangladesh for temporarily sheltering the forcibly displaced persons from Rakhine State of Myanmar and extending continued humanitarian assistance to them.

Professor Yunus appreciated Japan's humanitarian assistance for these down-and-outs, including those in Bhasan Char. Japan reaffirmed its sustained efforts on this issue. Both sides shared the view that a sustainable, safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of the displaced persons to Myanmar is the ultimate solution to this crisis for peace and stability across the region.

Both sides also recognised the importance of sincere dialogue among all relevant stakeholders to resolve the crisis.

Meanwhile, Japan and Bangladesh signed six memoranda of understanding on economic, investment and other sorts of cooperation on Friday, the third day of the ongoing visit of Chief Adviser Prof Yunus to Japan, said a spokesperson for the CA Office. The CA witnessed the signing of the MoU accords on the sidelines of a seminar titled 'Bangladesh Business Seminar' in Tokyo. The first MoU involves the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the ministry of energy and mineral resources of Bangladesh.

This accord is expected to strengthen cooperation between JBIC and Bangladesh to realise projects in the energy sector.

The second MoU is between ONODA Inc and Bangladesh SEZ Ltd for a land-lease contract for BSEZ.

Japan's ONODA has implemented a gas-meter-installation project initiated by JICA and is planning to do new assembly manufacturing, inspection and maintenance of gas meters at the factory in BSEZ.

The third MoU involves Bangladesh Naxis Co. Ltd and Bangladesh SEZ Ltd for a land lease in BSEZ.

Bangladesh SEZ Ltd. (BSEZ) and Bangladesh Naxis Co. Ltd (Naxis) will sign a land-sublease agreement. Naxis plans to manufacture apparel accessories at the factory in BSEZ.

The fourth MoU involves Glagit and Musashi Seimitsu Industry Glafit and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on support for setting up a factory for battery-run cycles and an electric motorcycle-manufacturing plant.

The fifth MoU involves Cipher Core Co. Ltd which is investing $20 million in its Bangladesh venture to launch a national pilot project for information security based on Complete Cipher Technology by award-winning inventor Takatoshi Nakamura.

The project aims to make Bangladesh a quantum-resilient digital economy, with exclusive rights granted to the local entity for technology deployment and global expansion.

The sixth MoU involves the Japan International Cooperation Agency and BIDA. This one confirms JICA's engagement in providing technical and in-kind support for the early-stage development of the Integrated Single Window Platform (ISWP). This platform is a BIDA-led effort to consolidate the individual one-stop services currently operated by various investment-promotion agencies across Bangladesh.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus congratulated all parties involved. "Now it is our task to implement. I am moved," he said.

Mentioning the situation Bangladesh had passed through in the past 16 years, the Chief Adviser said the country faced "continuous earthquakes" during the time that left "nothing in shape".

"In this situation a good friend came up... and that friend is Japan. I came here to thank you and design the next step," he told his audience.

Calling the challenge historical, the Chief Adviser said, "We want to show the history that it was done, done in a perfect way.

"We have kind of tightened our belt and say here we are to work. With your support it is doable."

In this onerous job, he stressed a combined synergy. "Let's put our hands together and execute it... it's not about making money. It's about changing people's lives."

Shinji Takeuchi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), noted at the event that the number of Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh exceeded now 300, three-fourths higher than 10 years ago.

Norihiko Ishiguro, Chairman and CEO, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), delivered the welcome speech where Fumiya Kokubu, Chairman of Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC) and Director, Member of the Board, Executive Corporate Adviser, Marubeni Corporation, also spoke.​