Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has launched a dedicated Japan Desk to strengthen trade and investment ties between Bangladesh and Japan and explore new opportunities for the country’s apparel industry in the Japanese market.
The Japan Desk was formally inaugurated on Wednesday at the Nurul Qadir Auditorium of the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka, with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi as the chief guest and BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan attending as the special guest.
The initiative has been launched under the theme of “Connection, Collaboration and Prosperity” with the aim of strengthening economic relations between the two countries, expanding bilateral trade and investment, and supporting Bangladeshi apparel exporters seeking to enter or expand in Japan.
Senior representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, JETRO Dhaka, Dhaka Shokai (JCIAD), Toyota Tsusho, Teijin Frontier, Marubeni, ITOCHU Corporation and the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) attended the event.
Japanese Ambassador Saida inaugurated the Japan Desk at the BGMEA Complex by cutting a ribbon alongside representatives from the two countries.
The launch follows the formation of the Japan Market Strategy Development Committee by the current BGMEA board about a year ago, with the specific objective of expanding Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Japan.
BGMEA Vice President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman serves as chairman of the committee, while BGMEA Director Mohammad Sohel serves as its coordinating director.
The inauguration programme included registration, networking and a presentation on Bangladesh-Japan partnership. BGMEA Secretary General Major General Dr Md Shahedul Islam (Retd) also delivered a presentation on the association’s overall activities.
In his welcome remarks, Mizanur Rahman drew attention to the need to facilitate travel visas to Japan for Bangladeshi apparel entrepreneurs, particularly marketing and merchandising professionals, to strengthen business engagement between the two markets.
Kazi Sarwar Habib, Managing Director of Furushima (BD) Ltd and adviser to the BGMEA Japan Committee, and Mohammad Sohel presented the objectives, functions and action plan of the new Japan Desk.
Ambassador Saida congratulated BGMEA and other stakeholders on the establishment of the Japan Desk, expressing hope that the new initiative would further strengthen bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Japan. He also stressed the importance of export diversification for achieving sustainable economic growth.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said the association believes Bangladesh should reduce excessive dependence on a limited number of sectors and traditional markets and place greater emphasis on product and market diversification.
He identified Japan as a highly promising market for Bangladesh’s apparel industry and said the Japan Desk was established to help unlock that potential.
Khan also identified lead time as one of the major challenges for Bangladesh in expanding apparel exports to Japan, particularly in ensuring product delivery within the shortest possible timeframe.
Other participants included Daisuke Arai, Overseas Business Adviser at JETRO Dhaka; Yuji Wagata, President of Dhaka Shokai (JCIAD) and Chief Representative of Toyota Tsusho Corporation; Takamasa Yamamoto, General Manager of Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd’s Dhaka Liaison Office and chairman of the Appeal Standing Committee of the Japan Chamber; Sugawara Manabu, Country Head of Bangladesh and General Manager of Marubeni Corporation’s Dhaka and Chattogram offices; Hiroaki Oura, Chief Representative and General Manager of ITOCHU Corporation’s Dhaka Liaison Office; and Tarek Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), President of JBCCI.
BGMEA Senior Vice President Enamul Haque Khan highlighted the transformation of Bangladesh’s apparel industry, improvements in workplace safety and compliance, and the importance of building a long-term strategic partnership with Japan.
Japanese business representatives at the event praised the progress of Bangladesh’s apparel sector, including improvements in working conditions and compliance standards. They said the longstanding relationship of trust between Japan and Bangladesh could contribute to stronger bilateral trade in the coming years.
They also expressed the view that the new Japan Desk would facilitate greater business communication between the two countries and create new opportunities for collaboration and economic growth.
An interactive question-and-answer session was also held, where industry entrepreneurs and guests discussed Japanese investment, business opportunities and potential areas for bilateral cooperation.
The programme concluded with closing remarks and a bilateral networking session.
The newly launched BGMEA Japan Desk is expected to serve as a one-stop platform for Japanese buyers and investors. It will support the management of small and medium-sized orders, facilitate Japanese investment in Bangladesh and strengthen long-term cooperation between the two countries’ apparel industries.