PM Seeks Japan’s Support to Establish ‘Technology and Innovation City’

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is on a four-day official visit to Japan. He arrived at Narita International Airport in Tokyo at around 9:15am local time on Monday and began a busy schedule of meetings with senior Japanese officials, business leaders and development partners.

During his meetings, the prime minister sought Japan’s support for Bangladesh’s development, particularly for establishing a “Technology and Innovation City”. On the second day of his visit, he is scheduled to lead high-level bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, followed by a joint announcement.

PM Tarique Rahman and his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, received a warm welcome from Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutaka Nakasone, officials accompanying the prime minister and leaders and activists of Japan BNP and its affiliated organisations. After completing airport formalities, the prime minister travelled by motorcade to the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, where he and his delegation are staying.

Meeting with JICA president

The prime minister met Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Akihiko Tanaka at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel at 5:10pm local time on Monday. According to Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Shahadat Shwadhin, PM Tarique Rahman sought Japan’s assistance in several priority areas, including the Bangladesh-Japan skills development partnership, the establishment of a technological village and an innovation city, agricultural modernisation, agro-processing and light engineering.

Bangladesh also stressed the need to continue concessional loans and expand technical assistance in line with its development priorities. Considering the global energy situation, the prime minister requested budget support to help meet the country’s energy needs and ensure energy security, as Japan had provided in the previous year.

PM Tarique Rahman said Japan’s cooperation had played an important role in Bangladesh’s infrastructure development, socioeconomic progress and wider development goals. He stressed the importance of continuing cooperation to strengthen the longstanding friendship between the two countries and improve the living standards of the people.

Mr. Tanaka reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to working with Bangladesh towards prosperity. The meeting also discussed completing major Japanese-funded development projects on schedule and speeding up the approval and implementation of priority projects awaiting clearance.

The prime minister recalled a productive meeting with Mr. Tanaka in Dhaka during the latter’s visit to Bangladesh in July 2026. He expressed gratitude for Japan’s longstanding support and JICA’s contribution to Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development, expressing hope that continued cooperation would strengthen the strategic partnership and promote shared prosperity.

Senior officials from both sides attended the meeting, including Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit, and other advisers and officials.

Meeting with Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League

Earlier on Monday, PM Tarique Rahman met a delegation from the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JB PFL) at the Imperial Hotel. The delegation was led by the league’s president and former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso.

The prime minister thanked Aso for his continued contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries. He recalled meeting Aso in 2006 when he was a senior joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

PM Tarique Rahman said Mr. Aso had played a positive and constructive role in developing bilateral relations while serving in key positions, including prime minister, deputy prime minister and finance minister. He said Mr. Aso’s longstanding personal engagement with Bangladesh had helped strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

Both sides stressed the importance of expanding political, economic and people-to-people ties. The prime minister sought Mr. Aso’s support for increasing Japanese investment, expanding bilateral trade and promoting technology transfer following the signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan. He also sought continued Japanese support for Bangladesh’s development priorities and skilled workforce development.

The Rohingya crisis was also discussed. PM Tarique Rahman sought Japan’s continued assistance in ensuring the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. He invited Mr. Aso and members of the parliamentary friendship league to visit Bangladesh, expressing hope that such visits would deepen parliamentary friendship and bilateral cooperation.

Talks with Marubeni chairman

The prime minister also met Masumi Kakinoki, chairman of Marubeni Corporation and president of the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation, at 3:45pm local time on Monday. PM Tarique Rahman praised Kakinoki’s role in strengthening trade and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan. He also thanked him for supporting Japanese investment in Bangladesh and improving business ties.

The prime minister called for greater Japanese investment in promising sectors, including information and communication technology (ICT), renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. He said Bangladesh offered significant opportunities for foreign direct investment and public-private partnerships in these areas.

He also sought Japanese cooperation in modernising the Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO) and assessing the feasibility of establishing a second fertiliser factory in Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman said the government was committed to creating an investment-friendly environment by reforming regulations, simplifying investment approval procedures and strengthening public-private partnerships.

Mr. Kakinoki expressed hope that effective implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan EPA would expand bilateral trade, increase Japanese investment and create new business opportunities.

High-level bilateral talks scheduled

The prime ministers of Bangladesh and Japan are scheduled to hold high-level bilateral talks at the Japanese prime minister’s office, known as Kantei, at 11am local time on Tuesday. Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shwadhin said the talks would focus on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, Japanese cooperation in various sectors and shared positions on international issues. Sanae Takaichi is expected to formally welcome PM Tarique Rahman before the meeting. The two leaders will also attend a luncheon hosted by the Japanese prime minister.

Bangladesh seeks stronger investment partnership

Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh’s relationship with JICA had a long history, but the country now wanted to move beyond dependence on foreign aid and build economic partnerships based on investment.

Speaking at a press conference at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, he said JICA’s president had assured Bangladesh of continued support for development projects. He added that discussions had focused on how Japan and Bangladesh could work together to promote economic progress through an investment partnership.

Mr. Kabir said Bangladesh wanted to stand on its own feet and build business partnerships with other countries through investment rather than relying on aid. He also said the Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Peace Foundation had hosted a dinner in honour of the prime minister. The event was arranged by Yohei Sasakawa, honorary chairman of both organisations, and attended by senior foundation officials and members of the Bangladeshi delegation.

PM Tarique Rahman is leading a 17-member delegation that includes his wife, ministers, advisers, senior officials, Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman and representatives of political and other organisations. This is the prime minister’s fourth official overseas visit since taking office on February 12 last year. Before visiting Japan, he travelled to Malaysia and China and visited New York in September to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Bangladeshi and Japanese media and political analysts have described the Japan visit as one of his most important overseas trips.