Written by The Banking Post
Japan holds immense potential as a market for Bangladesh’s apparel exports, said Mahmud Hasan Khan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), highlighting the industry’s strategic push for market diversification.
He made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Kazuyuki Kataoka, Country Representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), held at the BGMEA office in Uttara, Dhaka.
Also present at the meeting were Sheikh Mohammad Shariful Alam, Senior Director of JETRO Dhaka, along with BGMEA Senior Vice President Inamul Haque Khan, Vice President Md Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury, and Director Mohammad Sohel.
The discussion focused on the current state of Bangladesh’s apparel industry, the vast potential of the Japanese market, and the possible implications of retaliatory US tariffs on Bangladeshi garment exports.
Despite Bangladesh’s apparel exports to Japan already exceeding $1 billion, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan noted that the actual potential is significantly higher. He stressed that active support from JETRO would be crucial in unlocking this potential.
He urged the JETRO representative to take proactive steps in this regard, including facilitating matchmaking sessions between Bangladeshi and Japanese apparel businesses and encouraging bilateral exchange visits.
Both sides also discussed the ongoing negotiations on the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The BGMEA president emphasized the need for a simplified, single-tier Rules of Origin framework, which he believes would streamline and reduce the cost of the export process.
JETRO’s Kazuyuki Kataoka reaffirmed Japan’s strong investment ties with Bangladesh, stating that many Japanese companies are interested in expanding operations in the country. However, he pointed out that port management, logistics development, and improved connectivity with neighboring countries remain key challenges to overcome.
