The Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) warmly welcomed the announcement that the Governments of Bangladesh and Japan have reached an agreement in principle on the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
This important development marks a major step toward the finalization of a comprehensive economic partnership between the two countries.
The EPA aims to deepen trade, investment, and service linkages and is expected to play a pivotal role as Bangladesh transitions from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.
The current agreement in principle reflects alignment on the structure and key provisions of the EPA, with formal signing to follow upon completion of necessary legal and cabinet-level processes in both countries, said a press release.
JBCCI is proud to have actively supported this process by commissioning a landmark policy study titled “Accelerating Japan-Bangladesh EPA: Key Priorities and Strategies Ahead; conducting a perception survey among JBCCI and Shoo Koo Kai (JCIAD) members, reflecting real-world views of businesses engaged in bilateral trade and investment; engaging with public and private stakeholders to present research-based recommendations and practical insights for the negotiations.
The release said the JBCCI is encouraged to see that issues raised by private sector stakeholders – such as simplified rules of origin, increased market access for RMG, liberalization of service sectors, and regulatory cooperation – have been recognized in the structure of the EPA as it stands.
Highlights of the agreed framework include immediate duty-free access for 7,379 Bangladeshi products into the Japanese market; Japan will gain immediate preferential access to 1,039 product categories in Bangladesh; and Liberalization of over 100 service sub-sectors, promoting investment, skills, and innovation.
JBCCI appreciates the tireless efforts of the negotiation teams, particularly the Ministry of Commerce (Bangladesh), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan), BIDA, and the Joint Study Group. The Chamber also commend the active participation of its members, whose inputs helped ensure the EPA reflects the needs of real businesses.
As the process now enters its legal and ratification phase, JBCCI also remains committed to supporting implementation, capacity building, and outreach so that the benefits of this landmark agreement are maximized for both nations.
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