The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh Office yesterday organised a special seminar on the evolving role of development cooperation and the future direction of the Japan-Bangladesh partnership amid an increasingly complex global environment.
Titled "Development Cooperation in a Complex Global Environment - Perspectives on Japan`s ODA and Future Partnerships," the seminar was held at Holiday Inn Dhaka, bringing together senior government officials, academics and development cooperation experts, said a press release.
State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari attended the seminar as the chief guest, while Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky attended as special guests.
JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Junko Takahashi delivered the welcome remarks, while Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi of Kyoto University delivered the keynote lecture.
The keynote was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ryutaro Murotani, Senior Deputy Director General of the Operations Strategy Department at JICA Headquarters.
The panel included ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Additional Secretary of the Career Planning and Training Wing of the Ministry of Public Administration Dr Mohammad Manirul Islam, Dhaka University Professor S M Ali Reza, Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi and JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Junko Takahashi.
In her welcome remarks, Takahashi said Bangladesh`s transformation from a newly independent nation into one of the world`s fastest-growing economies was a remarkable example of national vision, resilience and leadership.
"Japan is proud to have been a trusted partner throughout this journey," she said.
Professor Nakanishi said development cooperation had evolved significantly over the past decades in response to changes in the global environment.
"As we enter an era shaped by great power competition and economic security, Japan and Bangladesh must continue to adapt their partnership while building on the strong foundation of their longstanding cooperation," he said.
State Minister Bari highlighted Japan`s longstanding contributions to capacity building in Bangladesh`s public sector and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in public administration reform and the development of a professional and merit-based civil service.
Ambassador Saida said Bangladesh`s advancement toward middle-income status required the bilateral partnership to evolve accordingly.
"As Bangladesh advances toward middle-income status, our partnership must also evolve. We should gradually shift our focus from aid to business, while strengthening cooperation in areas such as investment, manufacturing, and start-up promotion to create new opportunities for sustainable growth," he said. ERD Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky said Bangladesh, as it moves into its next stage of development, seeks deeper partnerships that promote knowledge sharing, innovation and institutional capacity.
He said addressing priorities including competitiveness, governance, sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience and human capital development would require stronger collaboration among all stakeholders.
The seminar provided a platform for discussions on ways to deepen Bangladesh-Japan cooperation in response to an increasingly complex global environment.
Participants underscored the importance of co-creation, knowledge sharing, human resource development and institutional strengthening in addressing shared challenges and building a prosperous, resilient and sustainable future.