Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin said that the draft of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan has been finalized. The agreement will be signed next month.
Bangladesh is going to sign such an economic agreement with any other country for the first time. Through this agreement, Bangladesh has agreed to open 97 sub-sectors for Japan. On the other hand, Japan has decided to open services in 4 modes in 120 sub-sectors for Bangladesh.
He gave this information at a press conference on the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Commerce at the Secretariat today (December 22, 2025) Monday afternoon. Lutfe Siddiqui, Special Envoy of the Chief Advisor for International Affairs, Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), and Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman were present at the time.
The Commerce Advisor said, through intensive negotiations, we have finalized the draft of the EPA agreement with Japan. I spoke to the Japanese Foreign Minister on the phone today. The EPA will be signed next month.
He said, this is the first economic agreement of Bangladesh with any other country in the world. As a result of this agreement, investments from both countries will be attracted. Bilateral trade between the two countries will increase.
The Commerce Secretary said, we started the process of this agreement at the end of 2024. After eight rounds of meetings, the agreement has now been finalized.
Lutfe Siddiqui said, we have never made such an economic agreement before, which is why we did not know what to do in this case. We have achieved it with the sincere efforts of everyone in this government. Undoubtedly, this is a good agreement for Bangladesh.
Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun said, we have long-standing good relations with Japan. However, Japan’s investment in this country is only 500 million dollars. This is very small compared to Japan’s investment in other countries of the world. Earlier, when we asked for more investment from Japan, there was no such (economic agreement) structure, so investment was hindered.
He said, we are always compared with Vietnam. But Vietnam has agreements with 30 countries. We are just starting. However, the journey that has begun, we will be able to make many more economic agreements in the future. The challenges of LDC transition will be easier for us.
He said, earlier, Japanese investment in this country was in one or two sectors, now it will be expanded in many sectors. Especially, big investments will come in logistics, electronics, IT and automobile sectors. As a result, Japanese investment in Bangladesh will increase and technology transfer will be accelerated.
It was informed at the press conference that this agreement is expected to bring massive trade and economic benefits to Bangladesh. As a result, trade expansion, investment increase and new employment opportunities will be created in Bangladesh. Through which a new chapter will be opened in Bangladesh-Japan economic relations. If the agreement is executed, 7379 products will get immediate duty-free access to the Japanese market from the first day of signing the agreement. On the other hand, Japan will get immediate duty-free access to the Bangladesh market for 1039 products. It will be signed next month after the approval of the advisory councils/cabinets of both countries and the completion of subsequent legal steps.
Incidentally, the Economic Partnership Agreement or EPA is a plan to create a free trade area or FTA between the two countries. Such agreements continue the mutual cooperation of the two countries to reduce various trade barriers, import quotas, tariffs in the free trade area and increase trade in goods and services with each other.
