FTA with Japan vital to boost investment in Bangladesh

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito has underscored the need for initiating new framework of trade in the form of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan for facilitating more trade and investment in the country.  

He urged the private sectors of both the countries under the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) to concentrate on enhancing the business relationship between Bangladesh and Japan and fulfill the vision 2041 for Bangladesh to become a developed nation. 

The Ambassador was speaking as the chief guest at a handing-over and taking-over ceremony of the JBCCI at Six Season Hotel Dhaka on Sunday. The election for the new JBCCI board two years term till October, 2022 was held on February 22, 2021.

Asif A Chowdhury has been elected president, while Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) has been re-elected secretary general of the chamber for the third time.

Asif Chowdhury, Managing Director and CEO of Chowdhury Group is Honorary Consul of Chile in Bangladesh while Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) is Managing Director of NewVision Solutions Ltd. 

Ambassador Naoki Ito further said, Bangladesh has prospect to move forward through further development of infrastructure, Big B concept and connectivity of Bay of Bengal area.

He, however, stressed on the need for development of soft infrastructure, which is improvement of business climate, setting up Araihazar Economic zone on time and emphasizing on human resource development.  

Other office bearers of the chamber include Md. Shariful Alam and M Jalalul Hai, vice presidents, Takeshi Hashimoto, treasurer, and directors Yuji Ando, Chief Country Representative of JETRO Dhaka Office, Dr. Kabir Ahmed, Tadaoki Watanabe, Nurul Wahab, Takashi Miyata, Syed Samiul Huq and Tetsuro Kano.

Khondker M Talha, Director General (East Asia & Pacific Wing), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh attended the event as special guest. During his speech, he mentioned about the strategic partnership with Japan through which 14 megaprojects are currently getting implemented. 

He also mentioned that through Public Private Economic Dialogue (PPED), Bangladesh government has resolved many problems of the Japanese investors on a priority basis.  

Asif Chowdhury thanked the outgoing president Yuji Ando for his enormous contributions to JBCCI during his tenure. He also laid out his vision for the JBCCI during his tenure as president.

Caption

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito (sitting at dias-3rd from left), present as the chief guest at a handing-over and taking-over ceremony of the JBCCI at Six Season Hotel Dhaka on Sunday. 

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Vice Presidents

Md. SharifulAlam

General Manager of Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd.   

:        2) Mr. M Jalalul Hai

Chief Executive Officer, Haison International Ltd.

Secretary General : Mr. Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun)

Managing Director of NewVision Solutions Ltd.

Treasurer : Mr. Takeshi Hashimoto

Chief Representative of MUFG Bank Ltd. Dhaka Office.

Directors : 1) Mr. Yuji Ando

Chief Country Representative of JETRO Dhaka Office

2) Dr. Kabir Ahmed 

Managing Director of Conveyor Logistics Ltd.

         3) Mr. Tadaoki Watanabe 

Managing Director of Tokyo Consulting Firm Ltd.

       4) Mr. NurulWahab

Managing Partner of A. Wahab& Co. Chartered Accountants

5) Mr. Takashi Miyata 

 Managing Director of YKK Bangladesh Pte. Ltd. 

6) Mr. Syed Samiul Huq

Director of Japan Solartech Bangladesh Ltd.

7) Mr. Tetsuro Kano

General Manager of ITOCHU Corporation, Dhaka Liaison Office