The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) held a high-profile investment seminar in Tokyo on Wednesday, urging Japanese investors to explore business opportunities across Bangladesh’s Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and the BEPZA Economic Zone (BEPZA EZ).
The event followed Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s recent visit to Japan, which saw the signing of multiple MoUs to enhance bilateral cooperation in investment, energy, and technology, according to a press release.
Jointly supported by Maruhisa Pacific Co Ltd, Yokohama Labels and Printing (BD) Co Ltd, YKK Group, and the Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) community in Japan, the seminar attracted around 125 participants from prominent Japanese investment houses and industrial groups.
Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, BEPZA’s Executive Chairman, highlighted Bangladesh’s strategic geographic position at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia, offering direct access to regional and global markets.
He also underlined the government’s commitment to a pro-business ecosystem. Investors in BEPZA enjoy a seamless One Stop Service, tax holidays, duty-free imports, legal protections, and other investor-friendly policies.
Md Daud Ali, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Japan, assured Japanese investors of full support, including expedited business and tourism visas processed by the embassy within an hour.
The seminar also spurred practical suggestions from NRBs and existing investors who urged the launch of a direct flight between Dhaka and Narita to improve business connectivity. Participants emphasized Bangladesh’s expanding port capacity and logistics infrastructure as a catalyst for trade facilitation and regional integration, offering investors an alternative hub to leverage beyond the traditional focus on RMG exports.
