Special Correspondent

Japan expects the upcoming official visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to deepen bilateral understanding, strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two nations, and inject fresh momentum into economic cooperation, particularly in investment, infrastructure development, and business confidence.

The prime minister will pay a four-day official visit to Japan from October 26 to 29 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The two governments formally announced the visit on October 20.

During the visit, Tarique Rahman will hold high-level bilateral talks with Takaichi at her office in Tokyo on October 27. The Japanese prime minister will also host a luncheon in his honour, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said at a media briefing at the Foreign Ministry.

"Japan welcomes Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's first visit to Japan as Prime Minister," the Economic Section of the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka said in response to a query from state news agency BSS on Tokyo's expectations.

Japan hopes the visit will advance cooperation towards peace and security in the region and shared prosperity, while providing an opportunity for the two countries to reaffirm common priorities and discuss how bilateral cooperation can better support Bangladesh's development objectives.

On the economic front, the Japanese side noted that investors' sentiment was improving in view of the new government's pro-business policies.

"We also attach importance to improving the investment environment, advancing infrastructure cooperation, and strengthening human and institutional capacity," the Economic Section added.

The prime minister is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and meet Japanese business leaders to explore investment opportunities, trade expansion, and industrial cooperation.

His tentative itinerary includes meetings with representatives of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League and the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation.

Meetings are also being planned with the presidents of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the chairman of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

Besides official talks, the proposed itinerary includes visits to an LNG terminal and power plant in Futtsu City, Chiba, the headquarters of UNIQLO, and a Toyota manufacturing plant in Nagoya.

A major focus of the high-level trip will be attracting fresh Japanese investment, expanding bilateral trade, and accelerating ongoing mega development projects.

The two sides are expected to discuss the effective implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed in February 2026, alongside ways to expand market access for Bangladeshi products in Japan.

The foreign secretary noted that announcements concerning memorandums of understanding (MoUs) or cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, human resource development, skills enhancement, civil aviation, trade, environmental conservation, and local government modernisation might be made during the visit.

Detailed discussions are also planned on Japanese support for establishing manufacturing plants in Bangladesh, creating employment, and developing human resources in line with the prime minister's economic priorities.

Beyond economic affairs, the two leaderships are expected to discuss regional and international peace and stability, a sustainable and peaceful solution to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, and stronger cooperation in addressing energy security.

The Japanese Embassy's Economic Section emphasized that the visit offers a vital platform to address investment-related challenges, reinforce business confidence, and create a sound foundation for future economic initiatives.

Tokyo also stressed the importance of effective follow-up to high-level discussions so that shared commitments translate into practical benefits for both nations, noting that progress on existing initiatives—such as Dhaka's Metro Rail, the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and the Matarbari deep-sea port project—would further encourage Japanese investors.