Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori has expressed his commitment to assisting in the implementation of the 'Ekti Graam, Ekti Ponyo' (One Village, One Product) project undertaken by the Bangladesh government.
The ambassador made the commitment during a courtesy visit to State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu at his ministry office on Monday (February 19), as stated in a press release.
During the meeting, the minister sought Japanese assistance to implement the recently launched 'Ekti Graam, Ekti Ponyo' project, aimed at enhancing employment opportunities and the production of exportable goods.
Ambassador Iwama welcomed the initiative and expressed his readiness to collaborate in making it a reality.
The ambassador emphasized Japan's keen interest in strengthening its relationship with Bangladesh and its desire to serve as a development partner in the country's progress.
According to the UNDP, the 'One Village, One Product' project is a strategic initiative specifically designed for regional development, initially pioneered in Japan. Its uniqueness lies in the potential to achieve regional economic development by identifying and producing goods using local resources, developing packaging and label designs, ensuring quality control, and promoting them in local and global markets.
Furthermore, the ambassador extended an invitation for Bangladesh to participate in the World Expo 2025, scheduled to be held in Japan next year.
Highlighting the friendly ties between Bangladesh and Japan, the state minister emphasized Japan's pivotal role as a development partner. He expressed optimism for enhanced cooperation in expanding trade and commerce between the two nations.