[🇧🇩] Strategic Aspect of Bangla-Japan Relation

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Japan, Bangladesh to sign economic partnership deal by year-end: PM Ishiba

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced that Bangladesh, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, is entering a new era of transformation. During a bilateral meeting with Dr Yunus in Tokyo, Ishiba confirmed that the two friendly nations will finalise an Eco

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Japan, Bangladesh to sign economic partnership deal by year-end: PM Ishiba

FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
May 30, 2025 22:26
Updated :
May 30, 2025 22:26

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced that Bangladesh, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, is entering a new era of transformation.

During a bilateral meeting with Dr Yunus in Tokyo, Ishiba confirmed that the two friendly nations will finalise an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) by the end of the year to boost trade and investment, according to local media.

In a joint statement, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic ties and strengthening strategic cooperation. Ishiba praised Bangladesh’s ongoing democratic transition and assured continued Japanese support. Dr Yunus expressed gratitude for Japan’s unwavering assistance during the interim government's reform efforts.

Dr Yunus also sought Japanese support for key infrastructure projects, including expressways, bridges, and energy terminals, and called for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh’s high-tech and industrial sectors.

The leaders also discussed regional geopolitics and the Rohingya crisis, with Dr Yunus urging Japan to intensify efforts for a lasting solution. Prime Minister Ishiba expressed admiration for Dr Yunus’s global contributions to poverty alleviation and indicated his interest in visiting Bangladesh soon.​

 

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Big Japanese investors to come to Bangladesh, hopes Press Secretary

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday expressed optimism about increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh following the highly successful visit of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to Japan. “It was a very successful visit,” said the Press Secretary while

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Big Japanese investors to come to Bangladesh, hopes Press Secretary

Published :
Jun 01, 2025 18:42
Updated :
Jun 01, 2025 18:42

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Sunday expressed optimism about increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh following the highly successful visit of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to Japan.

“It was a very successful visit,” said the Press Secretary while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, UNB reports.

He said the relationship between Bangladesh and Japan has become deeper and stronger, expressing hope that major Japanese investors will now come forward to invest significantly in Bangladesh.

On the issue of manpower export, the Press Secretary said a new opportunity has emerged with the formation of a dedicated task force.

Alam said with coordinated steps, Bangladesh could export a greater number of workers to Japan, with an initial target of 100,000 over the next five years. “Japan will be an important manpower export destination for Bangladesh,” he said.

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Ahmmad Foyez were also present at the briefing.

On May 30, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Md Daud Ali signed the Exchange of Notes for Japanese loans titled ‘Development Policy Loan for Economic Reform and Strengthening Climate Change Resilience’ (up to JPY 60 billion) and ‘Construction of Dual Gauge Double Line Between Joydebpur–Ishurdi Section Project (Ⅰ)’ (up to JPY 92 billion), as well as a grant aid titled ‘The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)’ (up to JPY 606 million).

The signing ceremony, held in Tokyo, was witnessed by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan IKUINA Akiko and Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.

During the official working visit of Professor Yunus to Japan from May 28 to 31, both countries reaffirmed their ‘Strategic Partnership’ and agreed to enhance cooperation across a wide range of areas, including economic development.​

 

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Commerce ministry asks agencies to submit project proposals for Japanese assistance

The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has directed its affiliated agencies to submit project proposals for implementation with technical cooperation from the Japanese government. The ministry has also set June 30, 2025 as the deadline for submission of the project proposals, according to the ministry off

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Commerce ministry asks agencies to submit project proposals for Japanese assistance

FE REPORT
Published :
Jun 18, 2025 08:48
Updated :
Jun 18, 2025 08:48

The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has directed its affiliated agencies to submit project proposals for implementation with technical cooperation from the Japanese government.

The ministry has also set June 30, 2025 as the deadline for submission of the project proposals, according to the ministry officials.

The MoC has recently issued an official order in this regard to the relevant entities, including Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), Directorate Of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), Office of Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCI&E), Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB), Bangladesh Competition commission (BCC), Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI), Business Promotion Council (BPC), The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB), The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) and Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB).

Earlier, the Japanese government has invited project proposals through its Embassy in Dhaka for implementation of projects with Japanese technical assistance in Bangladesh during Japan's 2026 fiscal year (April 2026 to March 2027).

The proposals will have to be submitted to the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka by July 03, according to the officials.

The MoC entities will be able to submit proposals, seeking technical cooperation for the purpose of project assistance, individual expert, individual training and development planning, it was learnt.

The proposals will have to be submitted as per the prescribed format, an official at the commerce ministry said.​

 

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JBCCI hosts farewell reception for Yuji Ando

The Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) organised a farewell reception on June 22, 2025, in honour of Mr. Yuji Ando, Joint Secretary General and Past President of JBCCI. The event was attended by current and former board members, past presidents, honorary members, and senior

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JBCCI hosts farewell reception for Yuji Ando

FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Jun 22, 2025 18:49
Updated :
Jun 22, 2025 18:49

The Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) organised a farewell reception on June 22, 2025, in honour of Mr. Yuji Ando, Joint Secretary General and Past President of JBCCI.

The event was attended by current and former board members, past presidents, honorary members, and senior officials from the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh.

JBCCI President Mr. Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) inaugurated the programme with a welcome speech. Several officials, members, and former presidents then took the opportunity to express their sincere gratitude to Mr. Ando, recalling his valuable contributions to the business communities of both Japan and Bangladesh, including his dedicated service to JBCCI. They also extended their best wishes for his future endeavours.

As a token of appreciation, JBCCI Board Members presented Mr Ando with gifts of gratitude.

In his remarks, Mr Yuji Ando reflected on his association with JBCCI and highlighted the chamber’s pivotal role in fostering business cooperation between Japan and Bangladesh. He conveyed his best wishes for JBCCI’s future growth and success.

Photographs from the event were also shared by JBCCI for documentation.​

 

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https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/dhaka-tokyo-ink-deal-to-develop-rail-communication

Dhaka, Tokyo ink deal to develop rail communication

BSS
Published :
Jun 27, 2025 19:39
Updated :
Jun 27, 2025 19:39

A loan agreement was signed today for the project titled “Construction of Dual Gauge Double Line between Joydebpur-Ishurdi Section Project (I)” under the 2nd batch of the 46th Japanese ODA Loan Package between Bangladesh and Japan.

The ‘Loan Agreement’ was signed on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh by Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, while ICHIGUCHI Tomohide, Chief Representative of the JICA Office in Bangladesh, signed the loan agreement on behalf of the Government of Japan in the NEC-2 conference room of the Economic Relations Division in the city.

Under the agreement, the Government of Japan will provide a loan assistance of JPY 92,077 million (approximately US$630 million) to Bangladesh.

It is noteworthy that during the Honorable Chief Advisor’s recent visit to Japan, the ‘Exchange of Notes’ for the loan of this project was signed on May 30, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan.

This project has been undertaken with the aim of improving the country’s communication system by enhancing the capacity of the existing railway track through double tracking.

The project will include the construction of a 162 km dual gauge main line, 25 km loop and siding lines, 11 km reconstruction of existing tracks, construction of 3 new stations, and other associated works.

The Government of Japan will provide funding for the project in different phases. Previously, a loan agreement of JPY 4,228 million (approximately $ 32 million) was signed with the Government of Japan for the engineering services of the project.

For this first tranche, the interest rate for the loan is 2.00% for construction works, 0.65% for consultancy services, and a Front-End Fee (at a time) of 0.20%. Repayment period of this loan will be 30 years which includes 10 years grace period.

Japan is the largest bilateral development partner of Bangladesh. It has been providing continuous support for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh since our independence.

In line with the Bangladesh government’s priorities for achieving economic growth, the Japanese government has so far committed $ 33.62 billion loan and grant assistance for infrastructure development in different sectors like communications, power and energy, agriculture, education, health and family welfare, water supply and sanitation, rural development, environmental development, and human resource development.​