Bangladesh and Japan have decided to sign the economic partnership agreement (EPA) by the end of 2025 or early 2026 when Bangladesh is expected to graduate from LDC (Least Developed Country).
The Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (JBCCI) underlined that the EPA is a crucial tool for boosting investment and commerce between Bangladesh and Japan. In keeping with that, JBCCI established a Standing Committee with an emphasis on EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) to assist and streamline EPA’s various stages of operations.
A seminar on EPA Study Reports was held on Thursday at the Japanese Embassy in the nation’s capital by JBCCI, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), JCIAD, and Embassy of Japan assistance.
Md Emran, executive director of JBCCI, stated that EPA was a very important vehicle to secure duty-free market access for Bangladesh after it graduates from LDC in 2026 and conducts the program.
In his introductory remarks, JBCCI President Myungho Lee stressed the importance of EPA.
Additionally, he emphasised how urgent it was to start the EPA negotiations.
Jetro Dhaka’s national representative, Yuji Ando, gave a brief history of the EPA and discussed its importance.
The chairman of Policy Exchange of Bangladesh, M. Masrur Reaz, gave a keynote address detailing the advantages and difficulties of the EPA as well as suggestions for how nations could profit from it.
To highlight the EPA’s salient qualities and demonstrate its possible benefits, he also provided examples from other nations.
Following that, the head of the JBCCI’s EPA Standing Committee, Asif A. Chowdhury, led a Q&A session.
Participants in this workshop had the chance to ask questions and share thoughts, and their inquiries were appropriately answered.