A group of Japanese companies will invest $1 billion at the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Araihazar Upazila in Narayanganj, said Ito Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh on saturday.
Ambassador said this while talking to the media after taking a COVID-19 PCR test at the testing centre located at DNA Solution Ltd at Panthapath in the capital.
Japanese Ambassador also visited the NIPRO JMI Kidney Dialysis Centre Ltd, jointly owned by Japanese multinational organization ‘NIPRO Corporation’ and Bangladesh’s ‘JMI Group’, located at the same premises of DNA Solution Ltd.
Replying to media queries, Ito Naoki said, “In the last 10 years, NIPRO Corporation and JMI Group have jointly invested US$100 million, which is wonderful. Japanese investment would increase proportionately as Bangladesh’s economy will increase in stature. A new Special Economic Zone is being developed at Araihazar, outskirt of Dhaka. Our goal is for 100 Japanese companies to US$1 billion at the Araihazar SEZ. The pharmaceuticals sector is very important in this regard. I strongly believe that JMI’s successful venture with NIPRO Corporation will play an important role in bringing more Japanese investment in Bangladesh’s healthcare sector.”
He also said, “I came here to take a PCR test for myself. I had a good experience, as I visited the entire premise. Not only the testing centre, but everything here is clean and laden with state-of-the-art equipment. NIPRO and JMI’s future is in good hands, especially their joint ventures in the healthcare sector. I wish the very best for JMI and NIPRO.”
Md. Abdur Razzaq, Founder and Managing Director of JMI Group, informed the media that NIPRO Corporation has joint investments with 4 of JMI Group’s sister concerns, from which an investment of Tk. 124 crore was made even during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
Razzaq also said, “DNA Solution Ltd is a milestone of Bangladesh’s healthcare industry. The Japanese Ambassador took a PCR test from Saturday simply because we provide standard COVID-19 tests.”
JMI Group Chairman Jabed Iqbal Pathan said, “DNA Solution Ltd is not just a RT-PCT Laboratory, but also Bangladesh’s first-ever molecular diagnostic lab. DNA Solution Ltd is also the only COVID-19 testing centre certified by the Japanese Embassy in Bangladesh.”
Among others, Scientific Adviser of DNA Solution Ltd Dr. Md. Fazle Alam Rabbi and Executive Director of NIPRO JMI Marketing Limited Kunio Takamido, also spoke to the media.
