Dhaka: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh Office today organised a special seminar focusing on the evolving role of development cooperation and the future direction of the Japan-Bangladesh partnership amid an increasingly complex global environment. The event, titled "Development Cooperation in a Complex Global Environment - Perspectives on Japan's ODA and Future Partnerships," took place at Holiday Inn Dhaka, bringing together senior government officials, academics, and development cooperation experts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the seminar featured State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari as the chief guest, while Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky attended as special guests. JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Junko Takahashi delivered the welcome remarks, and Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi of Kyoto University delivered the keynote lecture.
The keynote address was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ryutaro Murotani, Senior Deputy Director General of the Operations Strategy Department at JICA Headquarters. The panel included ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Additional Secretary of the Career Planning and Training Wing of the Ministry of Public Administration Dr Mohammad Manirul Islam, Dhaka University Professor S M Ali Reza, Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi, and JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Junko Takahashi.
In her welcome remarks, Takahashi highlighted Bangladesh's transformation from a newly independent nation to one of the world's fastest-growing economies as an example of national vision, resilience, and leadership. Professor Nakanishi discussed the evolution of development cooperation over the past decades in response to global changes, emphasizing the need for Japan and Bangladesh to adapt their partnership.
State Minister Bari acknowledged Japan's contributions to capacity building in Bangladesh's public sector and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in public administration reform. Ambassador Saida emphasized the need for the bilateral partnership to evolve as Bangladesh advances toward middle-income status, suggesting a shift from aid to business, with a focus on investment and start-up promotion for sustainable growth.
ERD Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky spoke about Bangladesh's desire for deeper partnerships that promote knowledge sharing and innovation. He outlined priorities such as competitiveness, governance, sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience, and human capital development, highlighting the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
The seminar provided a platform for discussing ways to deepen Bangladesh-Japan cooperation in response to an increasingly complex global environment. Participants emphasized the importance of co-creation, knowledge sharing, human resource development, and institutional strengthening to address shared challenges and build a prosperous, resilient, and sustainable future.