Hopes Japan--Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(JBCCI) Kazuiki Kataoka
Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Country
Representative and new President of Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (JBCCI) Kazuiki Kataoka in an interview with Imtiaz Ahmed of Daily
Capital Views said that Japan and Bangladesh have enjoyed an exceptionally
strong and trusted partnership for more than five decades. What began as
development cooperation has evolved into a comprehensive relationship
encompassing trade, investment, infrastructure, economic connectivity.
“From a business perspective, I see tremendous potential for
Dhaka-Tokyo relations in the coming years. The proposed visit of Bangladesh
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Prime
Minister Ms Sanae Takaichi is expected to further strengthen confidence among
the business communities of both countries and help elevate the relationship to
a new stage of economic partnership,” hoped Kazuiki Kataoka.
The rest part of the
interview is given below:
Japan has been one of the major development partners of
Bangladesh since 1972. Bangladesh Prime Minister Mr Tarique Rahman will visit
Japan at the invitation of Japan Prime Minister Ms Sanae Takaichi within a
couple of months. How do you see Dhaka -Tokyo multilateral relations in the
coming days?
Japan and Bangladesh have enjoyed an exceptionally strong
and trusted partnership for more than five decades. What began as development
cooperation has evolved into a comprehensive relationship encompassing trade,
investment, infrastructure, economic connectivity.
I understand that the Government of Japan has not made any
official announcement regarding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to Japan.
However, I am aware that the matter has been reported by the Bangladeshi side
through various media outlets.
From a business perspective, I see tremendous potential for
Dhaka-Tokyo relations in the coming years. I believe Bangladesh will become an
increasingly attractive destination for Japanese companies, both as a
manufacturing hub for exports and as a promising market for domestic
consumption. Should the visit and summit-level discussions take place, they
would further strengthen confidence among the business communities of both
countries and help elevate the relationship to a new stage of economic partnership.
Bangladesh-Japan
bilateral trade has crossed 3.00 billion US dollars. What is our target to
reach bilateral trade within the next five years?
Bilateral trade is an important indicator, but it is not the
whole story. Many Japanese companies in Bangladesh serve not only the Japanese
market but also global and domestic markets. Therefore, our focus is not merely
on increasing bilateral trade figures, but on strengthening broader economic
ties through trade, investment, and industrial cooperation. In this regard, we
also have high expectations for the Bangladesh-Japan EPA."
The BNP government is
working on improving the business environment in Bangladesh. What are your
observations about the business environment?
A3 Bangladesh has many advantages, including a young
workforce, a large domestic market, and strong economic potential. We welcome
ongoing efforts to improve the business environment and hope to see further
progress in areas such as regulatory transparency, trade facilitation, and
policy predictability.
These improvements are important not only for attracting new
investors but also for enabling existing investors to expand their activities.
In many cases, additional investment comes from companies that are already
operating in the country. Therefore, addressing the challenges faced by
existing investors is one of the most effective ways to attract further
investment. Satisfied investors are the best ambassadors for Bangladesh, and
their positive experiences can encourage others to invest as well.
Foreign direct
investment (FDI) to Bangladesh suffered in 2023, 2024, 2025, according to data
of the Bangladesh Bank. Do you see more
Japanese investment in Bangladesh? What
is the perception of Japanese investors about the investment climate in
Bangladesh?
According to JETRO's FY2025 survey, 56.9 percent of Japanese
companies in Bangladesh intend to expand their operations over the next one to
two years, reflecting their strong interest in the country's future potential.
However, there remains a gap between business interest and actual investment
decisions. Investors continue to face challenges related to energy supply,
logistics, customs procedures, and international payments, all of which are
important factors in investment decisions. While the political and social
environment has become more stable following the February 2026 general
election, it is essential to address these long-standing business challenges
one by one in order to translate investor interest into actual investment.
Bangladesh has
celebrated 54 years of independence this year. How do you evaluate the
achievement of Bangladesh’s economic success?
A5 Bangladesh's economic transformation over the past 54
years has been remarkable. The country has become an increasingly important
market and investment destination for Japanese companies, supported by a
growing economy, a large and youthful workforce, and strong long-term
potential. While business environment challenges remain, Bangladesh has
established a solid foundation for future growth
