Diplomatic Desk:
During Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s four-day official visit to Japan, Tokyo reaffirmed its commitment to continue development cooperation with Bangladesh. Furthermore, the visit has paved the way for up to 1 trillion yen—approximately 6.3 billion USD—in private-sector Japanese investment in Bangladesh over the next five years, which could potentially generate around 200,000 jobs.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir shared these details during a press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (October 30, 2026), outlining the outcomes of the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan from October 26 to 29. He noted that the visit played a pivotal role in transforming the long-standing development cooperation between the two nations into a mutually beneficial economic and investment partnership.
The State Minister clarified that the proposed investment does not constitute a government loan commitment; rather, it reflects the potential for engagement from Japan’s private sector. A Japanese economic delegation is expected to visit Bangladesh soon to further these discussions.
During the visit, both countries agreed to elevate the long-standing ‘Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt’ (BIG-B) initiative to ‘BIG-B for Shared Prosperity.’ This framework includes plans to enhance cooperation in sectors such as energy, deep-sea ports, industry, IT infrastructure, and connectivity.
Additionally, discussions were held regarding the continuation of Japanese support for the development and operation of the Third Terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the MRT project in Dhaka, and the Matarbari Deep-Sea Port. The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for a 50 billion yen emergency assistance loan from Japan, aimed at ensuring the stability of energy supplies.
In meetings with representatives from leading Japanese corporations—including Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Toyota Tsusho, and Fast Retailing—the Prime Minister discussed expanding investments in sectors such as ready-made garments (RMG), renewable energy, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure. At the same time, emphasis was placed on technology transfer, skills development, employment generation, and the diversification of exports.
During the visit, six cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed, covering areas such as economic relations, the business environment, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, coastal security, climate cooperation, and information technology. Arrangements regarding investment support and local government development were also finalized.
Humayun Kabir stated that, in line with the foreign policy principle of “Bangladesh First,” the government aims to further advance its relationship with Japan by prioritizing national interests, mutual respect, and economic benefits. Through this visit, the Bangladesh-Japan relationship has reached a new dimension, extending beyond development cooperation to encompass investment, technology, employment, and human resource development.
