A bilateral meeting between the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka highlighted prospects for deeper trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting, held on Tuesday (September 16) at the DCCI Gulshan Center, was attended by DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh H.E. Saida Shinichi, along with DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury and Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman.
DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed emphasized Japan’s vital role in Bangladesh’s economic progress, particularly in infrastructure development, trade, and investment. Citing Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, he said bilateral trade between the two nations reached USD 3.12 billion in FY2023-24, with Bangladesh’s exports standing at USD 1.31 billion and imports at USD 1.81 billion. Japan is currently Bangladesh’s 12th largest export destination, 9th largest import source, and 11th largest source of FDI stock.
Highlighting Japanese investments worth USD 507.14 million in sectors such as fertilizer, construction, textiles, power, gas, and petroleum, the DCCI chief called for more Japanese investment in emerging sectors including automobiles, ICT, agro-processing, jute, footwear, and logistics. He particularly urged Japan’s support for Bangladesh’s growing SME sector and technical cooperation to enhance skilled manpower development.
Ambassador Saida Shinichi praised Bangladesh’s expanding domestic market and investment opportunities, noting that Japanese investors are keen to scale up their presence in the country. He stressed the importance of diversifying Bangladesh’s industrial base and strengthening efficiency and accountability in public service to unlock greater economic potential.
The envoy also highlighted opportunities for Bangladesh’s IT professionals to collaborate with Japan’s advanced technology sector. He informed that the 7th round of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations was recently held in Tokyo, with both sides expressing optimism about signing the deal soon. “This partnership will open a new window of opportunities for both economies,” he added.