DHAKA: The mayor of Kobe (in Hyogo Prefecture), the sixth-largest city in Japan, Kizo Hishamoto said that entrepreneurs in Kobe were deeply interested to invest in large infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.

The structures include water treatment plant, power plant, construction/management of deep sea port, health care, modernization of hospitals and training of doctors and nurses etc.

He expressed interest while meeting with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam MP in Kobe City on Wednesday.

The State Minister for Foreign Affairs paid a short visit to Kobe at the invitation of the Governor of the Prefecture Toshizo Ido and Kobe City Mayor of Kizo Hishamoto.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Governor handed over a key of Kobe city to the State Minister as a symbol of intention of the city to enter into mutual cooperation with Bangladesh in various sectors.

The mayor informed that Kobe City Corporation had already established cooperation with Chittagong through an exchange programme between Kobe University and Chittagong Medical College. 

Under this programme, there would be exchange programmes for doctors, nurses and students between the two institutions for professional advancement.

“The entrepreneurs of Hyogo are interested to extend similar cooperation to other hospitals and medical colleges in Bangladesh,” said both the Governor and Mayor.

The State Minister invited the businessmen of Kobe to visit Bangladesh and explore possibilities of doing mutually beneficial projects. He assured them of all cooperation in this regard.

Kobe- one of the modern and most developed cities in Japan- is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network since 2008 and also recognized by the UNESCO as the “City of Design”.

The high officials of the City Corporation and renowned businessmen of Kobe city were present during both the meetings.

The State Minister is on official trip to Japan as an entourage member of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

BDST: 2023 HRS, MAY 28, 2014