Shahabuddin Ahmed, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan, has encouraged Japanese companies to increase their procurement of high-quality products from Bangladesh even as Bangladesh actively participated in the recently held Fashion World Tokyo (FaW), at the Tokyo Big Sight in Japan.
Fashion World Tokyo, with approximately 1150 exhibitors, stands as Japan’s largest trade show dedicated to the fashion industry and attracts a diverse range of apparel, bags, shoes, textiles, leather goods, and fashion accessories from all around the world.
As part of the market development initiative by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) under the Ministry of Commerce in Bangladesh, 17 well-established exporters from the apparel and leather industries took part in the event.
Ambassador Shahabuddin Ahmed inaugurated the Bangladesh pavilion and visited booths from Bangladesh and those of Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) exhibitors on the first day of the trade show.
The exhibitors have high hopes that Bangladesh’s active participation in Fashion World Tokyo will significantly contribute to maintaining its existing market share and boosting exports to the Japanese market, as reported by the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo.
During the event’s second day, the Bangladesh Embassy organised a seminar titled ‘Made in Bangladesh Textile, Leather, and Jute Products’ at Tokyo Big Sight. Key figures in the seminar included Kiminobu Hiraishi, President of Maruhisa Co. Ltd., and Toshinao Okunaka, President of Marutomi Co. Ltd., who shared their experiences in doing business in Bangladesh.
Ariful Haque, Minister of Commerce at the Embassy, highlighted sustainable factories in Bangladesh and opportunities available for Japanese companies, as well as the support services provided by the embassy.
In the evening of the same day, the Embassy hosted a networking dinner reception at a local hotel, bringing together exhibitors, representatives from Japanese companies and organisations, and embassy officials.
Mayumi Murayama, Executive Vice President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), graced the event as a special guest even as she lauded Bangladesh’s economic achievements over the years and pledged JETRO’s ongoing support for strengthening trade relations between Bangladesh and Japan.
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has been participating in the Fashion World Tokyo for over a decade with a substantial number of exporters and leading industry players. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, Bangladesh’s exports to Japan reached US $ 1.9 billion, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year.
