Bangladesh Offers Japan Gateway to $3bn Regional Market

Bangladesh's strategic location between South Asia and ASEAN gives Japanese investors an opportunity to access a regional market of more than 3 billion consumers, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Bangladesh Investment Promotion Seminar in Osaka, jointly organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Bangladesh Embassy in Japan and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bobby said Bangladesh could serve as a strategic economic bridge connecting major regional markets.

“Bangladesh is not just a promising investment destination but a strategic economic bridge between South Asia and ASEAN,” he said.

The state minister said progress on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan, along with plans to establish a special economic zone for Japanese investors, would further strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.

He said these initiatives would create a more favourable environment for Japanese companies and expand economic cooperation between the two countries.

Referring to Japan's Meiji Restoration, Bobby said Japan's transformation through education, technology, industrialisation and visionary leadership offers valuable lessons for Bangladesh's future development.

He said Bangladesh aims to build a stronger economy through technology transfer, innovation, productivity improvement and skilled human resource development.

Bobby said Bangladesh's economy has crossed $500 billion and maintained steady growth despite global challenges, adding that the government aims to transform it into a $1 trillion economy by 2034.

He highlighted Bangladesh's young workforce of more than 70 million people as one of the country's biggest strengths, saying rising income levels and purchasing power are creating new investment opportunities.

Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Japan currently stands at around $3.5 billion, with both countries aiming to increase it to $10 billion in the coming years.

The state minister identified several promising sectors for Japanese investment, including machinery, light engineering, automobile and electric vehicle parts, electronics, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, agro-processing, renewable energy, logistics, industrial parks, robotics and education technology.

He also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in education, healthcare, technical training and employment, noting that Bangladesh's skilled workforce could help address Japan's labour shortages and ageing population challenges.

Bobby praised Japan's long-standing partnership with Bangladesh, particularly through JICA-supported projects in infrastructure, education and human resource development.

He called on Japanese businesses to become long-term partners in Bangladesh's growth journey, saying investment in Bangladesh would provide access not only to the domestic market but also to a wider regional consumer base.