Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, arrived in Tokyo on a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan. The visit includes participation in the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia, high-level meetings with Japanese officials, and discussions with development agencies and investors.
The visit comes at a time when Bangladesh is seeking deeper engagement with regional partners to support its economic transformation, enhance infrastructure, and increase skilled labor mobility abroad.
Regional Focus at the Nikkei Forum
One of the key events on the itinerary is Professor Yunus’s participation in the Nikkei Forum, an annual gathering of Asian political and business leaders held in Tokyo. This year’s theme, “Asia’s Challenge in a Turbulent World,” explores strategies for navigating geopolitical shifts, economic volatility, and environmental stress.
Professor Yunus took part in the inaugural session alongside regional leaders and policymakers, where he addressed development priorities, regional cooperation, and the role of inclusive economic models in addressing shared challenges. His presence reinforced Bangladesh’s role as a proactive contributor to regional dialogue and policy innovation.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
A central highlight of the visit is the scheduled meeting between Professor Yunus and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The meeting focuses on reinforcing long-standing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, with special attention to economic and infrastructural development.
Key agenda items include the extension of a new Japanese soft loan package worth approximately $1 billion. Of this amount, $500 million is allocated for direct budgetary support to Bangladesh, while $250 million is earmarked for critical infrastructure upgrades—most notably, the dual-gauge double-tracking of the Joydebpur–Ishwardi railway corridor. The railway project is expected to enhance trade efficiency and regional connectivity within Bangladesh.
The discussions are also expected to cover broader economic cooperation, trade facilitation, climate adaptation projects, and regional issues, including continued collaboration on managing the Rohingya refugee situation.
Expanding Skilled Labor Opportunities
Another significant component of the visit involves advancing labor cooperation between the two countries. Bangladesh is aiming to expand its skilled workforce presence in Japan, with a target of sending up to 100,000 trained workers in the coming years. Priority sectors include elder care, manufacturing, construction, and hospitality—areas facing labor shortages in Japan.
To support this, the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo organized a Human Resource Development Seminar attended by stakeholders from both nations. The seminar emphasized language training, technical skill development, and industry-standard certification processes to ensure smooth integration of Bangladeshi workers into the Japanese labor market.
This workforce initiative is expected to yield mutual benefits—addressing Japan’s demographic challenges while creating new employment pathways for young Bangladeshis.
Collaboration with Development and Trade Institutions
As part of the official itinerary, Professor Yunus held separate meetings with key Japanese institutions involved in international cooperation and trade development. He met with the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where discussions focused on ongoing and future development projects in Bangladesh. Topics included climate-resilient infrastructure, clean energy investment, and public transport modernization.
Another meeting was held with the President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), where attention was given to trade facilitation, investment promotion, and industrial policy alignment. These engagements aimed to position Bangladesh as a reliable trade and investment partner within the broader Indo-Pacific economic network.
Professor Yunus also participated in a Bangladesh Business Seminar and a roundtable with prominent Japanese investors. These sessions showcased Bangladesh’s strategic advantages, ongoing reforms, and opportunities in special economic zones.
