The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Wednesday officially launched its specialized "BGMEA Japan Desk" in its Uttara Complex, aiming to usher in a new era of bilateral economic cooperation, trade, and investment between Bangladesh and Japan.
The desk was inaugurated jointly by Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi, who attended as the chief guest, and BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, along with other senior diplomats and trade leaders.
Established under the motto "Connectivity, Collaboration, and Prosperity," the Japan Desk will function as a dedicated one-stop platform for Japanese apparel buyers and investors. It aims to facilitate small- and medium-sized order processing, streamline Japanese investments, and build a long-term strategic partnership in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
The initiative stems from the "Japan Market Strategy Development Committee," formed a year ago by the current BGMEA board. The committee is chaired by BGMEA Vice President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman, with Director Mohammad Sohel serving as Coordinating Director.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ambassador Saida Shinichi congratulated BGMEA on launching the desk, expressing optimism that it will energize bilateral trade between the two nations. He also highlighted the necessity of export diversification to ensure sustainable economic growth.
In his address, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan stated that Bangladesh should not remain overly reliant on traditional markets or a single sector. "BGMEA is prioritizing product and market diversification, and Japan presents immense potential for Bangladesh's RMG industry," he said. He noted that overcoming lead-time challenges for shorter delivery cycles remains the primary hurdle in expanding market share in Japan.
Welcoming the guests, BGMEA Vice President Mizanur Rahman requested the Japanese Ambassador to consider simplifying travel visas for Bangladeshi apparel entrepreneurs, particularly marketing and merchandising personnel.
BGMEA Senior Vice President Inamul Haq Khan (Bablu) emphasized the transformation of Bangladesh’s garment industry, focusing on safe working environments, workplace compliance, and long-term strategic alignment with Japan. Representatives from Japanese organizations and businesses also commended the industry's compliance standards and expressed confidence that the desk would deepen economic ties.
The event featured a presentation on BGMEA's overall activities by Secretary General Maj. Gen. Dr. Md. Shahedul Islam (Retd.) and a briefing on the Japan Desk's operational plan by Kazi Sarwar Habib, Advisor to the BGMEA Japan Committee and Managing Director of Furushima (BD) Ltd., alongside Director Mohammad Sohel.
High-level delegates attended the ceremony, including representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka, JETRO Dhaka Office, Japanese Commerce & Industry Association in Dhaka (JCIAD), Toyota Tsusho, Teijin Frontier, Marubeni Corporation, Itochu Corporation, and the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI).
Key attendees included JBCCI President Yuji Wagata, JETRO Overseas Business Advisor Daisuke Arai, Teijin Frontier General Manager Takamasa Yamamoto, Marubeni Country Head Sugawara Manabu, Itochu Chief Representative Hiroaki Oura, and JBCCI President Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun).
The program concluded with an interactive Q&A session discussing Japanese investment prospects and bilateral networking.