Tokyo: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today called upon Japanese companies to invest in Bangladesh and help its economic recovery and rebuilding efforts. “Today, we are in a situation when we need your support most. We have come a long way. The rest of the journey should be of doing things together with fun and enjoyment,” he told a roundtable in Tokyo. The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) arranged the meeting at its headquarters.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, top executives of Japanese companies with significant business interests in Bangladesh were present at the meeting. Prof Yunus highlighted that over the past 16 years, Bangladesh’s infrastructure and financial systems were severely affected, leading to a negative financial situation. The banking system collapsed, foreign exchange reserves dwindled, and administrative as well as police systems faced challenges. The past ten months have seen his interim government working on rebuilding these systems piece by piece.
The Chief Adviser emphasized the importance of Japanese support in this rebuilding phase. He expressed his government’s commitment to creating a new Bangladesh, distinct from the past, and invited Japanese entrepreneurs to be partners in this transformative journey. He conveyed optimism about leaving behind past difficulties and laying the foundation for a new future.
Norihiko Ishiguro, JETRO Chairman and CEO, acknowledged the remarkable growth and investment opportunities in Bangladesh. Fumiya Kokubu, Chairman of the Japan Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC), expressed hope that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) would be signed soon, and called for tax regulation reforms to facilitate investment. Shinichi Saida, Ambassador of Japan in Bangladesh, noted that the economy was protected under the Interim Government, with no halted projects or suspended businesses.
The roundtable also featured speeches from prominent figures such as Shingo Ueno, CEO of Sumitomo Corporation; Mitsuru Izumo, CEO of Euglena Co., Ltd; Steven Winn, Chief Global Strategist of JERA; Kazunori Ogawa, Senior Managing Director of JBIC; Shigeyoshi Onoda, President of ONODA Inc.; Kazuya Nakajo, Executive Vice President of JETRO; and Mayumi Murayama, Executive Vice President of IDE-JETRO. Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy of the Chief Adviser, delivered the concluding statement.