JICA, BRDB hold meeting to boost rural development

 
The Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held a meeting held recently to boost rural development efforts. 
The session, chaired by Sarder Md Keramat Ali, BRDB director general, featured JICA's representative Takeshi Ikeda, says a press release. 
Ikeda shared that a JICA team visited areas under BRDB's 'Gaibandha Integrated Poverty Reduction Project,' where the "One Palli One Product" (OPOP) programme is being implemented. He praised OPOP and proposed sending Japanese volunteers to support its expansion.
Keramat Ali welcomed the volunteer proposal and noted that BRDB plans to scale up OPOP in line with Japan's "One Village One Product" (OVOP) model. A project proposal is under review by the Planning Commission.
The meeting also covered the Link Model, a key initiative developed by JICA and BRDB. The fourth phase of the "Partnership-based Rural Development Project" (PRDP) will begin soon.
Keramat Ali highlighted BRDB's efforts in marketing rural products and creating craft villages with JICA support.
Ikeda praised BRDB's rural development efforts and emphasized future collaboration, including improved training for BRDB officials.