Tarique Rahman Japan Visit Puts Investment and Trade Growth in Focus
DHAKA, Oct. 24 — Bangladesh is looking to deepen economic cooperation with Japan as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman prepares for an official visit to Tokyo from Oct. 26 to 29, with investment, trade expansion and infrastructure development expected to feature prominently on the agenda.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Japan sees the visit as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral economic ties, improve investor confidence, and advance the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Rahman is visiting Japan at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The two governments formally announced the visit on Oct. 20.
The two leaders are scheduled to hold high-level talks at the Japanese prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Oct. 27. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said Takaichi would host a luncheon in honor of the visiting Bangladeshi leader.
Japan’s embassy in Dhaka said the visit could help both countries reaffirm shared priorities and explore ways to make bilateral cooperation more effective in supporting Bangladesh’s development goals.
Investment and business cooperation in focus
Japan is placing particular emphasis on improving Bangladesh’s investment climate, expanding infrastructure cooperation and strengthening human resources and institutional capacity.
The embassy’s economic section told BSS that the new government’s business-friendly policies were contributing to a more positive outlook among investors.
During the visit, Rahman is expected to deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and meet Japanese business leaders to discuss investment opportunities, trade growth and industrial cooperation.
His proposed schedule also includes meetings with representatives of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League and the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation.
Other planned engagements include meetings with the heads of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the chairman of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
Infrastructure, industry and market access
The prime minister’s tentative itinerary includes visits to a liquefied natural gas terminal and power plant in Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, as well as the headquarters of Uniqlo and a Toyota factory in Nagoya.
The discussions are expected to cover ways to attract fresh Japanese investment, accelerate ongoing development projects and expand access for Bangladeshi products in the Japanese market.
Implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed in February 2026, is also expected to be on the agenda.
Foreign Secretary Siam said the visit could produce memorandums of understanding or announcements on cooperation in several areas, including agriculture, fisheries, human resource development, skills training, civil aviation, trade, environmental protection and modernization of local government.
Bangladesh also wants greater Japanese support for establishing factories, creating jobs and developing a skilled workforce.
Regional issues and development partnership
Beyond economic matters, the two sides may discuss regional and international stability, a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the Rohingya crisis, and cooperation to address energy challenges.
Japan has stressed the importance of translating high-level agreements into measurable results. According to its embassy, progress in existing initiatives would help strengthen business confidence and encourage further investment.
Japan has been one of Bangladesh’s key development partners since the country gained independence. Japanese assistance has supported major infrastructure projects, including Dhaka’s metro rail system, the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and infrastructure development in the Matarbari area.
The visit is expected to build on the strategic partnership established between the two countries in 2023. Investment, trade, infrastructure, technology transfer and workforce development are likely to remain central to their shared economic agenda.
The extent of the gains, however, will depend on how effectively both governments implement commitments, address barriers to investment and turn proposed cooperation into tangible outcomes.
