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The newly elected board of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI), headed by President Kazuiki Kataoka, took charge for the 2026-2028 term at the chamber’s 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 4.
The AGM was held at Hotel Lakeshore with nearly 240 guests, including JBCCI members, board members, distinguished guests and media professionals. JBCCI Executive Director Tahera Ahsan moderated the event.
Outgoing President Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) highlighted JBCCI’s role in strengthening trade and business ties between Bangladesh and Japan, saying the chamber had served as an important bridge between the two business communities since its establishment in 2004.
He described the signing of the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as a historic milestone and stressed the importance of its timely ratification, effective implementation and adequate business preparedness to fully utilise the opportunities it creates.
He also called for a predictable and investor-friendly business environment, continued policy advocacy, stronger business connectivity and greater participation of women in business.
JBCCI Secretary General Maria Howlader FCA said the chamber’s membership had grown to 391 and highlighted its activities during fiscal 2025-26, including advocacy on the EPA, engagement with the government, business networking, investment promotion and sector-specific initiatives.
She recommended greater focus on EPA readiness, resolving investor concerns, sector-specific business matching, regular initiatives involving Japanese business delegations, stronger member engagement and greater participation of women entrepreneurs and young business leaders.
The AGM approved the appointment of Shafiq Mizan Rahman & Augustine, Chartered Accountants, as the chamber’s auditor for fiscal 2026-27.
Participants also appreciated JBCCI’s seminars, Japanese business delegations, memorandums of understanding, roundtable discussions, networking programmes and engagement with government agencies and other organisations. Officials from the Embassy of Japan also attended the AGM.
Acting Chairman of the JBCCI Election Board AZM Azizur Rahman formally introduced the new board of directors, which was elected on September 23 for the October 2026-September 2028 term.
Abu Zaman Md Tariqul Islam and Syed Samiul Huq were elected vice-presidents, while Rabiul Alam was elected secretary-general and Kenji Kimura treasurer. Oliver Kutz was elected joint secretary-general and Saumitra Kumar Mutsuddi joint treasurer.
Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), Hiroaki Oura, Kabir Ahmed, Atsushi Hirakuri, AKM Ahmedul Islam Babu, Kenichiro Kawamoto, Farzanah Chowdhury, Hironori Yamanaka and Mudassir Murtaza Moin were elected directors. Manabu Sugawara and Abdul Haque were appointed advisers to the board.
New Secretary General Rabiul Alam and President Kazuiki Kataoka expressed their commitment to making JBCCI a more vibrant and effective bilateral chamber.
Alam said the new board would build on the strong foundations laid by its predecessors as trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and Japan continued to evolve.
Kataoka thanked the outgoing leadership and highlighted the important role of Bangladeshi member companies in strengthening business engagement with Japanese companies.
He identified two key priorities for his tenure: highlighting Japan’s longstanding contributions to Bangladesh through trade, investment, infrastructure and business activities, and making better use of the knowledge and expertise available among JBCCI’s nearly 400 member companies through seminars, knowledge-sharing sessions and networking initiatives.
He also pledged to enhance JBCCI’s value, visibility and activities while maintaining the professional standards expected of a leading bilateral chamber.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi, the chief guest at the AGM, congratulated the incoming leadership and praised the outgoing board for its service.
Highlighting JBCCI’s growth from just over 20 members to nearly 400, the ambassador stressed the importance of strong governance, institutional relevance and delivering tangible outcomes for members. He also welcomed Bangladesh’s growing policy focus on attracting foreign direct investment.
Saida Shinichi reaffirmed Japan’s longstanding commitment as a trusted development and business partner of Bangladesh. Referring to the Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February with support from JBCCI, he described it as an important milestone in strengthening bilateral economic relations.
He expressed optimism that Japanese investment initiatives currently in the pipeline would materialise and said high-level exchanges between the two countries could further strengthen their strategic and business partnership.
The ambassador also stressed the importance of industrial diversification, development of upstream industries, removal of unnecessary regulatory barriers and red tape, and creation of employment opportunities for young people.
He called for a transparent and sustainable relationship between business and politics to support long-term economic development.
Hiroaki Oura, vice-president of JBCCI, delivered the vote of thanks and expressed appreciation to the outgoing leadership and members for their contributions, while wishing the new board success in carrying forward the chamber’s initiatives.
