To attract Japanese investments, the Bangladesh Investment Promotion Seminar was held in Tokyo, organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). The event focused on strengthening economic ties, with a particular emphasis on Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the country’s total exports and consists of more than 4,000 garment factories.
Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, attending as the chief guest, urged Japanese investors to explore business opportunities in Bangladesh, highlighting Japan’s role as a trusted development partner and the largest single-country investor in Bangladesh’s infrastructure and industrial growth. He assured full cooperation from the government to facilitate Japanese investments.
More than 100 Japanese entrepreneurs and business leaders participated in the seminar, underscoring the growing interest in Bangladesh’s investment landscape. BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury presented an in-depth analysis of investment prospects in Bangladesh through a powerful presentation, detailing the opportunities in the RMG industry, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.
Other distinguished speakers included Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Md Daud Ali, JETRO Senior Vice President Kazuya Nakajo, JICA Director General for South Asia Teruyuki Ito, and JICA Senior Vice President Sachiko Imoto. Additionally, Nahian Rahman Rochi, Head of Business Development at BIDA, and Yuji Ando, JETRO Bangladesh Representative, participated in an engaging panel discussion on business expansion and trade opportunities.
Later in the afternoon, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin met with Japan’s State Minister for Economy, Trade, and Industry, Ogushi Masaki, to discuss bilateral trade, investment expansion, and the Public-Private Economic Dialogue (PPED) between the two nations. The Commerce Adviser urged Japan to encourage more companies to invest in Bangladesh, emphasising the favorable business climate and the launch of the Bangladesh Single Window (BSW) system to facilitate faster investor services.
State Minister Masaki responded positively, expressing Japan’s commitment to enhancing trade and investment cooperation with Bangladesh, particularly in the RMG, textile, and industrial automation sectors. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including BIDA, Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue (NBR), and embassy representatives.
The seminar and high-level discussions reflect Japan’s growing interest in Bangladesh’s thriving RMG industry and overall industrial expansion, reinforcing economic ties between the two nations and paving the way for increased foreign direct investment.
