Japanese envoy optimistic about signing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) soon
A bilateral meeting between DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed and Japan Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi was held today at DCCI Center in Dhaka. Photo: DCCI
DHAKA, Sept 16, 2025 (BSS) – A bilateral meeting between Taskeen Ahmed, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), and Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, was held today at DCCI Gulshan Center in the capital.
During the meeting, Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh stated that Bangladesh holds enormous potential for business, trade, and investment.
However, to harness these potentials, diversification of the overall industrial structure as well as efficiency and accountability in public service are also crucial, he added.
The Ambassador noted that Bangladesh’s domestic market is steadily expanding, and considering the existing investment facilities, Japanese entrepreneurs are likely to increase their investments here, said a DCCI press release.
He further mentioned that there is an ample opportunity for Bangladesh’s skilled IT professionals to collaborate with and contribute to Japan’s advanced technology sector, fostering mutual benefits for both countries.
The Ambassador also informed that the 7th meeting of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the two countries was recently held in Tokyo and both parties expressed that the agreement would be signed soon.
He said that this partnership will open up a new window of opportunities for the economy of both countries.
DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said that Bangladesh has a longstanding partnership with Japan and their contribution to Bangladesh’s economic progress particularly in the infrastructure development, bilateral trade, and investment is indisputable.
According to EPB data, bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Japan has reached $3.12 billion in FY2023-24, with imports and exports amounting to $1.81 billion and $ 1.31 billion respectively. Japan is the 12th largest export destination and 9th largest import source and 11th largest source of FDI stock for Bangladesh.
DCCI President also mentioned that Japanese entrepreneurs have already invested $507.14 million in different sectors like fertilizer, construction, textiles, power, gas, and petroleum, though Japan’s total global foreign investment is $ 184.02 billion.
He urged Japanese investors to enjoy various facilities Bangladesh is offering to the foreign investors.
Taskeen further stressed on Japanese technical and technological cooperation in the areas such as automobiles, machinery, electrical equipment, agro-processing, agricultural logistics, jute and footwear, ICT, infrastructure development, logistics management, and skilled manpower development.
In particular, he called upon Japan to support Bangladesh’s growing SME sector so that it can utilize its full potential and expand export markets for its products.
DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury and Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman were also present at the meeting.
BSS/PR/GM/F