Japan's record boost for Bangladesh economy

The overseas aid arm of the Japanese government has given the green light to three record loans, totaling US$670 million in support of Bangladesh's growing economy.
February 13, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

The overseas aid arm of the Japanese government has given the green light to three record loans, totaling US$670 million in support of Bangladesh’s growing economy.

Representing the largest-ever amount loaned to the south Asian country, the loans will go to three large-scale projects designed to strategically develop Bangladesh’s capacity for growth by extending transport links within the country, improving sanitation facilities, and support the country’s small and medium enterprises.

The loans are approved and administered by the 2416 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the arm of the Japanese government for international development.

Bangladesh, with a population of about 150 million living on a landmass less than 40% the size of Japan’s, reported a solid 6% annual growth rate last year principally owing to a robust textile and garments sector which is attracting an ever-growing number of foreign investors, including from Japan.

Bangladesh is classified among the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs), but also as one of the so-called Next Eleven countries with enormous potential to become a major economic player.

However, one in three inhabitants still lives below the poverty line and the country faces some serious challenges to the promise of further sustained growth. A third of the country is frequently flooded during rainy seasons, countrywide links are impeded by lack of transport infrastructure across its three major rivers, the Padma, Jamuna and Meghna, and other kinds of infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage, are also lacking.

The loans provided by JICA will focus on these three central challenges. As a start, the Japanese funds will go to building one of the longest bridges in the world over the Padma River, linking the country’s capital, Dhaka, to the industrial centre of Chittagong, and reducing travel time across the country from 12 to three hours, with clear benefits for trade and quality of life.

A second loan will increase the amount of households connected to the water grid in Khulna, the country’s third largest city, from 22% to 73%, while a third loan will be directed at the country’s small and medium enterprises sector, which is estimated to consist of 5.9 million businesses, employs 31 million people and represents 60% of the country’s manufacturing sector.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Latin America invests in infrastructure growth
    February 15, 2012
    Travelling in one of the world's most diverse regions is not always easy, but spectacular engineering feats will make life easier as Patrick Smith reports. Five years ago a report from the World Bank noted that infrastructure in most of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) had improved over the previous ten years.
    Read More
  • A bridge of hope?
    July 18, 2012
    As Russia prepares for a major Asia Pacific conference in nearly four years' time, the economic climate is felt in other countries in the region. Patrick Smith reports AUS$1 billion-plus suspension bridge is to be built to link the city of Vladivostok in the far east of Russia and Russky Island. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has signed an instruction for construction of the 3,150m long bridge, which is intended to provide access to the 24th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, to be held o
    Read More
  • Bangladesh bypass for capital Dhaka
    March 4, 2016
    In Bangladesh, planning is underway for a new bypass for capital Dhaka. The Joydevpur-Debogram-Bhulta road project will be built under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The project has been approved by Bangladesh’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). Under the PPP model, the Bangladeshi Government will select a road developer at an unusually higher bid price, which would make the Dhaka bypass road costlier for commuters, according to officials and this is the subject both
    Read More
  • Develop the Silk Roads, boost economic growth
    April 12, 2012
    Tony Pearce, honorary life member and former director-general of IRF Geneva, recalls the history of the Silk Roads, highlights their continued economic relevance and introduces IRF's active long-term commitment to their rehabilitation.
    Read More

Highlighted Content