Tarique wraps up Japan visit with six cooperation deals
Photo: PMO
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived back in Dhaka on Friday after concluding a four-day official visit to Japan, which focused on boosting bilateral ties, attracting foreign investment, and broadening trade and economic cooperation between both nations.
PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin confirmed the matter and said, “A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the PM, his wife Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 2:48 am.”
He noted that the aircraft departed Narita International Airport in Tokyo at 10:55pm local time on 29 October.
Following an invitation from Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi, Tarique Rahman participated in high-level bilateral talks, oversaw the execution of cooperation agreements, held discussions with Japanese business leaders regarding investment opportunities in Bangladesh, and toured key industrial and energy facilities.
During their bilateral summit at the Japanese PM’s Office on 27 October, Tarique and Takaichi prioritized bolstering the longstanding partnership between the two countries, focusing specifically on trade, investment, energy security, infrastructure, technology, space research, as well as regional and international affairs, reports BSS.
Both leaders evaluated a proposed private investment totaling one trillion Japanese yen (US$6.3 billion) directed toward Bangladesh’s energy, infrastructure, and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors. They agreed on plans to dispatch a Japanese team to Bangladesh to accelerate progress on this investment plan.
Moreover, Bangladesh obtained commitments for two yen-loan projects valued together at 46.56 billion yen (roughly US$295.5 million) and finalized six bilateral cooperation instruments throughout the visit.
These instruments comprised a grant agreement reaching up to 2.12 billion yen (US$13.44 million) to procure a patrol vessel designed to enhance Bangladesh’s coastal security capabilities.
Both nations executed memorandums of cooperation targeting the improvement of the business environment, agriculture, the Employment for Skill Development Program, and fisheries and livestock, in addition to signing a letter of intent regarding climate change cooperation.
The two loan projects will finance enhancements to Bangladesh’s investment climate alongside the second phase of the Upazila Governance and Development Project.
In addition to state-level accords, private-sector entities signed 17 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), as reported by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir.
On 28 October, Tarique addressed the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Forum Dialogue held at JETRO headquarters in Tokyo, urging Japanese companies to invest in five priority sectors: automotive manufacturing, energy, technology and space, high-speed rail and logistics, and agro-processing. He pledged full government support and ongoing reforms aimed at improving the business environment.
Throughout his stay, Tarique engaged with key Japanese political leaders, development partners, and business executives, including former prime minister Taro Aso, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Akihiko Tanaka, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Governor Kazuhiko Amakawa, and JETRO President Susumu Kataoka.
During talks with leadership from major Japanese corporations - such as apparel giant Uniqlo, Mitsui & Co, Sumitomo Corporation, and JERA - he examined avenues to expand investment, establish factories, create jobs, facilitate technology transfer, and develop skills.
To inspect Japan’s energy and logistics infrastructure, the Prime Minister visited JERA’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and power plant in Futtsu as well as the Nittsu Logistics Hub in Ichikawa on 27 October.
On Thursday, he traveled to Nagoya to tour Toyota Motor Corporation’s Motomachi factory and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, gaining firsthand insight into Japan’s automotive manufacturing capabilities.
This official tour comes as Bangladesh and Japan seek to expand economic engagement following the signing of their historic Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in February 2026, establishing a modernized framework to strengthen trade and commercial ties.
Japan has long served as a major development partner for Bangladesh, consistently supporting strategic infrastructure projects such as the Dhaka metro rail, the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and the Matarbari deep-sea port.
