Dhaka-Tokyo EPA marks new phase in economic ties
The Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has been hailed as a significant milestone in bilateral relations, with stakeholders emphasising the need for coordinated policies to fully harness its benefits.
Speaking at a seminar in Dhaka, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi described the EPA as Bangladesh’s first comprehensive economic partnership agreement and Japan’s first such agreement with a least developed country (LDC).
He noted that the accord goes beyond tariff reductions, establishing rules and procedures to facilitate trade and investment. The ambassador expressed hope that the agreement would attract greater foreign direct investment (FDI) and bolster Bangladesh’s industrial capacity.
As both nations move towards implementation, policymakers and stakeholders are focusing on how Bangladesh can maximise the opportunities offered by this new framework of economic cooperation.
The EPA is expected to expand trade, deepen investment linkages, support industrial upgrading, and strengthen Bangladesh’s integration into regional and global value chains.
Against this backdrop, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, organised a seminar on Monday titled “Maximising the Opportunities of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)”.
The event brought together policymakers, diplomats, academics, development partners, and business leaders from both countries. It was structured into four segments: an inaugural session; two thematic sessions on development and industrial policy and future Bangladesh-Japan cooperation; and a concluding session.
CPD Executive Director DrFahmidaKhatun delivered the welcome remarks and chaired the seminar. She highlighted that the EPA offers a platform to deepen bilateral economic relations and move beyond traditional aid-based engagement towards a partnership centred on trade, investment, and technology collaboration.
Presenting CPD’s analysis, DrKhatun noted that improved market access and enhanced cooperation could support export diversification and attract further FDI. She cautioned, however, that Bangladesh would require coordinated policies-including trade facilitation, industrial upgrading, and supportive fiscal measures-to realise the full potential of the agreement.
The seminar featured keynote presentations on Bangladesh’s development trajectory and lessons from global industrialisation experiences. DrMonzurHossain, Member (Secretary) of the General Economics Division (GED) of the Bangladesh Planning Commission, outlined the country’s industrial development progress and highlighted policy challenges ahead as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from LDC status.
Drawing on international experience, Kenichi Ohno, Emeritus Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), stressed the importance of strong institutions, policy learning, and effective government-industry coordination for sustained industrial growth.
The second session examined regional development models and prospects for future Bangladesh-Japan economic cooperation. Yasushi Ueki, President of the Bangkok Research Centre of IDE-JETRO, shared lessons from ASEAN and East Asian economies, demonstrating how infrastructure development, FDI inflows, and supplier networks enabled countries to integrate into global production systems.
Participants agreed that the Bangladesh-Japan EPA marks a key milestone in bilateral economic relations. They emphasised, however, that realising its full potential will require coordinated policy reforms, strengthened institutional capacity, and sustained collaboration among government, industry, and development partners.
