JBCCI’s 21st AGM: Ambassador Calls for Governance and Investment Drive as Membership Soars

JBCCI organized its 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 4, 2026 afternoon, at Hotel Lakeshore. JBCCI’s General members, Board members and Distinguished guests and media professionals, a turnout of nearly 240 guests from different organizations joined in this Program. Tahera Ahsan, Executive Director, JBCCI moderated the program.

Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), President, JBCCI delivered his welcoming remarks and illustrated JBCCI's role in recent times for developing bilateral trade relations between Japan and Bangladesh further. In his remarks, Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), President of JBCCI, highlighted the longstanding trust and growing economic partnership between Bangladesh and Japan, noting that JBCCI has 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 business readiness to fully utilize the opportunities it offers. He also emphasized the need for a predictable and investor-friendly business environment, continued policy advocacy, stronger business connectivity, and greater participation of women in business. Referring to major Japan-supported infrastructure projects, he underscored their importance in advancing Bangladesh’s economic development. As he concluded his term as President, he expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Japan, JETRO, JICA, JCIAD, the JBCCI Board, Secretariat and members, and conveyed his confidence that the incoming leadership would further strengthen trade, investment and friendship between Bangladesh and Japan.

Maria Howlader FCA, Secretary General, JBCCI highlighted the major activities of JBCCI undertaken during November 2025 to September 2026. In her remarks, Maria Howlader FCA, Secretary General of JBCCI, highlighted the Chamber’s significant progress during FY 2025–2026 and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Bangladesh–Japan economic relations. She noted that JBCCI’s membership had grown to 391 members and emphasized the Chamber’s active role in supporting the Bangladesh–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), policy advocacy, high-level government engagement, business networking, the Japan–Bangladesh Business Women Conference, investment promotion, and other sector-focused initiatives. Looking ahead, she recommended greater focus on EPA readiness, investor issue resolution, sector-specific business matching, regular Japan delegation initiatives, stronger member engagement, and increased participation of women entrepreneurs and young business leaders, while expressing confidence that the incoming Board would continue to advance JBCCI’s role in promoting trade, investment, and friendship between Bangladesh and Japan.

Md. Jahangir Alam Sharker CPA, Joint Treasurer, JBCCI presented the audited Annual Financial Report and highlighted key financial highlights to the audience to show that despite organizing various programs and activities, JBCCI still maintained sustainable financial growth in this term. He emphasized, JBCCI’s financial management remained focused on transparency, accountability and prudent stewardship.

Board Members proposed to appoint “Shafiq Mizan Rahman & Augustine, Chartered Accountants” to be the Auditor for FY 2026-2027.

The participants appreciated JBCCI for arranging seminar, Japan Delegation, MoUs with different organizations to increase facility for its members, round table discussion, networking, meeting with government & other organizations on different issues being implemented during November 2025 to September 2026. Officials of the Embassy of Japan also participated in the event.

Following that AZM Azizur Rahman, Acting Chairman, Election Board of JBCCI officially introduced the new Board of Directors of JBCCI for the term Oct 2026-Sep 2028 who were elected on September 23, 2026.

The names of the New Board Members are:

Kazuiki Kataoka, President

Abu Zaman Md. Tariqul Islam, Vice-President One

Syed Samiul Huq, Vice-President Two

Rabiul Alam, Secretary-General

Kenji Kimura,Treasurer

Oliver Kutz, Joint Secretary-General

Saumitra Kumar Mutsuddi,Joint Treasurer

Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), Director

Hiroaki Oura, Director

Kabir Ahmed, Director

Atsushi Hirakuri, Director

AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU, Director

Kenichiro Kawamoto, Director

Farzanah Chowdhury, Director

Hironori Yamanaka, Director

Mudassir Murtaza Moin, Director

Lastly, he introduced Manabu Sugawara and  Abdul Haque who have been appointed as the Advisors to The Board.

Rabiul Alam, newly elected Secretary General and Kazuiki Kataoka, newly elected President of JBCCI delivered short speech sharing their wishes for taking initiatives which will make JBCCI more vibrant Bilateral Chamber of Bangladesh. Rabiul Alam added that as Japan-Bangladesh relation is evolving towards increased trade and investment, this incoming JBCCI Board will continue to work on the strong foundations built by our predecessors and will aim to take this chamber to bigger, better and newer heights.

In his address, Kazuiki Kataoka, President-Elect of JBCCI, expressed his sincere appreciation to the outgoing President, Secretary General, Board members, and the wider JBCCI membership for their dedicated leadership and contributions to the Chamber. He particularly acknowledged the important role of Bangladeshi member companies in strengthening business engagement with Japanese companies.

Looking ahead to his tenure, Kataoka outlined two key priorities. First, he emphasized the importance of further highlighting Japan’s longstanding contributions to Bangladesh through trade, investment, infrastructure development, and business activities. Second, he stressed the need to better utilize the extensive knowledge and expertise available within JBCCI’s nearly 400 member companies through seminars, knowledge-sharing sessions, networking opportunities, and other member-driven initiatives.

He reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing the value, visibility, and activities of JBCCI while maintaining the high professional standards expected of one of Bangladesh’s leading bilateral chambers. He concluded by calling for the continued cooperation of all members to further strengthen the economic and business relationship between Japan and Bangladesh over the coming years.

This symbolic transition marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new phase in JBCCI's journey. The new board committed to upholding the organization’s values and promises, and to continuing to drive its objectives forward with a fresh perspective, renewed commitment, and strong vision for the future.

Speech of Chief Guest, Saida Shinichi:

Chief Guest, Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, expressed his appreciation to the outgoing President and Board members of JBCCI for their dedicated service and congratulated the incoming leadership, wishing them success in carrying the Chamber forward.

Highlighting JBCCI’s remarkable growth from just over 20 members to nearly 400, the Ambassador emphasized the importance of maintaining strong governance, institutional relevance, and delivering tangible outcomes for members. He noted Bangladesh’s progress toward becoming a middle-income country and welcomed the growing policy focus on attracting foreign direct investment.

Saida 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 observed that it represents an important milestone in strengthening bilateral economic relations. He also expressed optimism that a number of Japanese investment initiatives currently in the pipeline would materialize in due course, while high-level exchanges between the two countries could further elevate their strategic and business partnership.

The Ambassador also underscored the importance of industrial diversification, development of upstream industries, removal of unnecessary regulatory barriers and red tape, and creation of employment opportunities for the younger generation. He stressed the need for a transparent and sustainable relationship between business and politics to support long-term economic development.

Concluding his remarks, Saida Shinichi reaffirmed the Embassy of Japan’s continued support to JBCCI and encouraged the Chamber to further strengthen its role as a catalyst for expanding trade, investment, and business cooperation between Japan and Bangladesh.

Lastly, Mr. Hiroaki Oura, Vice President of JBCCI delivered his vote of thanks to the present guests and members at the AGM. He again expressed his sincere appreciation to the outgoing President, Secretary General, Board members, for their commitment to work together to take JBCCI at a higher height than before. He also appreciated JBCCI members’ continuous support to JBCCI’s activities which also played vital role to achieve today’s result by JBCCI. He expressed best wishes for the New Board of Directors to continue the ongoing progressive initiatives of JBCCI in coming days.