Dhaka, Bangladesh – Toshiba Asia Pacific today celebrated the official opening of its Bangladesh liaison office. Toshiba is the first Japanese electronics manufacturer to have set up an office in Bangladesh, and will enable the Toshiba Group to further enhance its presence in the country and support its economic development through infrastructural and energy solutions.
The opening ceremony, which was today held at Westin Dhaka hotel, was officially inaugurated by Guest of Honour Mr. Md. Tazul Islam, Chairman, Standing committee for Ministry of Energy, Power and Mineral Resources; Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Mr. Masato Watanabe; Mr. Fumio Otani, Corporate Vice President, Corporate Representative-Asia, Toshiba Corporation and Managing Director, Toshiba Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.; Mr. Kazuo Kusakabe, General Manager, Bangladesh liaison office, and Ms. Sayaka Kanagawa, Assistant General Manager, Bangladesh liaison office.
In his opening address, Mr. Otani shared how the company quickly decided on establishing a liaison office in Bangladesh. “Toshiba is working towards realising a safe, secure, and comfortable society. We have a wide presence in Asia, and when I came to Bangladesh last year, there was no doubt for the potential in Bangladesh” addressed Mr. Otani. “There are many opportunities in which Toshiba can contribute to the country’s economic development, especially to its infrastructure development. The Bangladesh liaison office will pave the way for Toshiba to make full use of these opportunities and enhance the quality of life for the Bangladesh people with our solutions.”
Toshiba Asia Pacific’s Bangladesh liaison office began operations in June 2015, and collects market information that enables Toshiba to contribute to Bangladesh’s infrastructure improvement.
According to the IMF, Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate in 2015 is 6.4%, ranking it higher than South East Asia’s average growth rate of 5.6%, and above ASEAN 10. This is also 0.2% higher than its growth rate in 2014. Bangladesh also received ODA loans from the Japanese government amounting to an additional USD 2.395 million for infrastructure projects.
Ms. Sayaka Kanagawa, Assistant General Manager of the Bangladesh liaison office, elaborated on Toshiba’s presence in Bangladesh. She said, “Bangladesh is experiencing rapid economic growth. As its population continues to grow, the country is facing issues such as traffic jams, power shortages, and health issues. As the first Japanese electronics manufacturer set up in Bangladesh, we aim to support the country’s continued economic development and contribute to the country’s infrastructure improvement. Our Bangladesh liaison office will serve as a platform to introduce Toshiba’s diverse infrastructure offerings such as power systems, water treatment systems, automation systems and industrial systems, enabling Toshiba to contribute to more safe, secure and comfortable lives for the people in Bangladesh.”
Toshiba is reaffirming its commitment to Bangladesh and the Asia region. The Group’s track record in Bangladesh extends from supplying steam turbine and generators for the Ghorashal power plant in 1970 to provision of medical diagnostics today. The Bangladesh liaison office, Toshiba Asia Pacific’s fourth branch office after its Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon offices, as well as Toshiba Asia Pacific group subsidiaries, will provide Toshiba with a regional presence extending from India through the ASEAN counties, and will promote further growth of the infrastructure business.
