Tokyo:Bangladesh and Japan held discussions on a proposed private investment of 1 trillion Japanese yen (US$6.3 billion) in Bangladesh's energy, infrastructure, and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors. This took place during a bilateral summit between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the summit was held at the Kantei, the Japanese Prime Minister's Office, at 1130 am local time. Discussions included the possibility of sending a Japanese team to Bangladesh to expedite the progress on the proposed investment plan, as stated by the Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.
The meeting focused on strengthening the longstanding friendship between the two countries and expanding cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, energy security, technology, and infrastructure development. Prime Minister Rahman called for a more active role from Japan in Bangladesh's economic development, highlighting the potential for the country to become a significant economic hub by 2030 and a trillion-dollar GDP economy by 2034.
Rahman also emphasized the importance of energy security, expressing gratitude for Japan's support in the energy sector and seeking further investment, especially in LNG infrastructure and renewable energy. He proposed the establishment of a Bangladesh-Japan Tech Park to foster collaboration in technology sectors such as AI and robotics.
Additionally, Rahman outlined plans for modernizing transport infrastructure, including a high-speed rail network and elevated roads, seeking Japan's cooperation in these projects. The Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in February 2026, was also discussed, with a proposal to establish a joint ministerial commission to facilitate further cooperation.
The summit concluded with a joint press announcement and the exchange of several memorandums of understanding. An official luncheon in honor of Rahman was also hosted by Takaichi at the Kantei. Rahman is on a four-day official visit to Tokyo, where he will deliver a keynote address at the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum and meet with Japanese business leaders.