Dhaka, Sept 6 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday that entrepreneurs from his country wanted to invest in transport, infrastructure, power and energy and garment sectors of Bangladesh.

Addressing Bangladesh and Japanese business luminaries during his 21-hour-long visit, Abe was quoted by the Daily Star, as saying, "Bangladesh is an emerging economy. So, our government plans to promote Japanese investment in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is also an important partner of Japan in South Asia."

He was addressing them at Dhaka's Sonargaon Hotel, and specifically mentioned that Bangladesh garment exports to Japan are on the rise following the relaxation of the Rules of Origin (RoO) by the Japanese Government under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) of Japan.

Earlier, Abe was received at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12.56 p. m. by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Abe is the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh in 14 years. The last Japanese Prime Minister to visit the country was Yoshiro Mori.

Abe and his wife, Akie Abe, were given a guard of honour at the airport before Hasina's cabinet colleagues greeted the Japanese premier.

The Japanese PM's total entourage member is about 150, of which 50 comprise the trade delegation.

From the airport, Japanese Prime Minister went to the National Mausoleum at Savar where he paid tribute to the martyrs of 1971 Liberation War by placing wreaths.

He then paid home to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi. (ANI)