Tokyo: Japanese Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Matsuo Takehiko has revealed that over 60 percent of Japanese companies are considering expanding their business operations in Bangladesh. Speaking at the 6th Bangladesh-Japan Public-Private Joint Economic Dialogue held at the Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry ministry in Tokyo, the Vice-Minister emphasized his government’s readiness to facilitate increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh through public-private partnerships.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the dialogue was attended by a Bangladesh delegation led by Principal Secretary to the Chief Advisor M. Siraz Uddin Miah, which included senior government officials and private sector representatives. The event also saw the participation of Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Md. Daud Ali and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi.
The dialogue served as a platform for open and constructive engagement between stakeholders from both nations, focusing on enhancing trade and investment cooperation. Key areas of discussion included connectivity, the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B), logistics, energy transition, agriculture, and the simplification of tax and customs processes. Bangladesh took the opportunity to showcase its investment potential and ongoing reform initiatives aimed at creating a more business-friendly environment.
The Japanese side was informed about the progress made in response to earlier feedback from Japanese investors. They expressed strong satisfaction with Bangladesh’s improving business climate, noting that the number of Japanese companies in the country has tripled over the past decade, reflecting increased investor confidence and strong interest in business expansion.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral economic ties and expressed optimism about concluding the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) by the end of the year. Bangladesh reiterated its full support to facilitate Japanese investment and emphasized its willingness to collaborate closely with Japanese stakeholders. The Japanese side welcomed the ongoing reforms and expressed optimism that the current momentum would continue.
Principal Secretary Miah assured that the Bangladesh government is committed to addressing key challenges raised during the discussion. He highlighted reform and automation efforts to ensure a more investor-friendly environment and underscored the importance of concluding the EPA before Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
The hybrid format dialogue was attended by senior officials from both governments and prominent business leaders. Participants from Bangladesh included representatives from the chief advisor’s Office, National Board of Revenue, Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Bank, and FBCCI. The Japanese side was represented by the Chairman of the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Co-operation of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), officials from the Japanese foreign ministry and other ministries, as well as heads of the JICA and JETRO offices in Bangladesh and representatives from the Japanese private sector.