The government is firmly committed to transparency and reform as it works to foster a stable, investor-friendly environment in Bangladesh, said Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEZA).

Speaking at a high-level economic briefing on the Japan-Bangladesh economic corridor held recently in Dhaka, Ashik Chowdhury acknowledged the challenges investors often face but assured that the government is taking steps to address them.

"We recognise the hurdles in the path of investment, but we are dedicated to building an environment that welcomes long-term investments and strengthens economic resilience," he said. "However, real progress requires continued engagement and pressure from the business community."

The event, jointly organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Standard Chartered Bangladesh, brought together key stakeholders including senior officials from BIDA, JETRO, JICA, the Japanese Embassy, and representatives from both Bangladeshi and Japanese business communities.

With global trade dynamics shifting and interest in South Asia growing, the forum highlighted Bangladesh’s economic resilience and the shared resolve of both countries to deepen bilateral ties and unlock new opportunities for growth.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Saida Shinichi, reaffirmed Japan`s long-standing support for Bangladesh`s development journey. "Our Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations reflect a shared vision for the future, with emerging prospects in sectors such as agro-business, fisheries, automotive, and textiles," he said.

JETRO`s Bangladesh Country Representative Yuji Ando echoed the optimism, noting that despite global uncertainties, Japanese firms already operating in Bangladesh are keen to expand. "This is a sign of strong and sustained confidence in the market," he said.

JICA`s Chief Representative in Bangladesh, Ichiguchi Tomohide, acknowledged that while improvements have been made, more needs to be done to attract and retain investors. "We are collaborating with JETRO and other partners to push key initiatives—like the Matarbari deep-sea port and mass rapid transit (MRT) systems—to make the investment process smoother," he said.

Standard Chartered Bangladesh CEO Naser Ezaz Bijoy emphasized Japan’s enduring friendship with Bangladesh, rooted in both policy and strong people-to-people connections. "We`re seeing positive trends in economic indicators and an overall stable outlook," he said. "With the right mix of reforms and cooperation, Bangladesh has the potential to become a trillion-dollar economy within the next five years."

His counterpart in Japan, Yusuke Asai, also highlighted the deep bond between the two countries and the opportunities ahead. "Standard Chartered remains committed to the Japan-Bangladesh economic corridor. With over 300 Japanese firms already in Bangladesh, now is the time to build on that foundation and scale up investments," he said.