India maintains a “very strong partnership” with Japan, and bilateral initiatives focused on the northeastern states will be “further strengthened,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Wednesday.
His remarks came hours after Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed to enhance regional connectivity and signed agreements that will facilitate additional Japanese support for Bangladesh’s Matarbari deep-sea port, a facility expected to improve links with northeast India.
“We have a very strong partnership with Japan. We also have several initiatives involving the northeast and Japan, and we would like to further strengthen these linkages,” Mr. Jaiswal said. He noted that Japanese language training for the working population in the northeastern States forms part of these efforts.
The spokesperson added that the developments would also give a boost to the Japan-India economic partnership in India itself. Northeastern States are already receiving Japanese assistance under the broader bilateral framework, he said.
During Mr. Rahman’s ongoing visit to Tokyo, Japan and Bangladesh signed multiple agreements covering further development of the industrial hub centred on the Matarbari deep-sea port. Mr. Rahman held meetings with Ms. Takaichi and representatives of leading Japanese business groups.
Japanese sources have indicated that Tokyo envisages linking the Matarbari port with India’s northeast to ensure optimal utilisation of the industrial hub and Bangladesh’s first deep-sea port, which currently relies on ports in Malaysia and Singapore for large vessels.
A joint statement issued during the visit placed the Matarbari port agreement under the “connectivity” section and underscored Japan’s intention to intensify work on the project. “To sustain rapid economic growth, the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to steadily advance cooperation aimed at further strengthening connectivity in the region,” the statement said. It added that, based on the “BIG-B (Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt) for Shared Prosperity,” the two sides concurred on developing the Matarbari-Maheshkhali area as a major hub for logistics, energy and industry, centred at the Matarbari Deep Sea Port.