Tokyo, Japan, Broadcasting News Corporation: In a groundbreaking milestone in bilateral relations, Bangladesh and Japan officially signed the ‘Economic Partnership Agreement’ (EPA) in Tokyo on Friday (February 6, 2026). This is the first time Bangladesh has signed an economic partnership agreement with any country.

Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin and Japan’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hori Iwao signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments at a grand ceremony held at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The signing ceremony was attended by Trade Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Japan Md. Daud Ali, Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi, and senior officials from both countries. The agreement is the outcome of seven rounds of negotiations held in Dhaka and Tokyo covering trade in goods and services, investment, and economic cooperation.
At the event, Commercial Counselor Sheikh Bashiruddin described this agreement as a reflection of the long-standing friendship between the two countries. He said that this EPA agreement is not just a commercial document; it represents Bangladesh’s bright economic future and the deep mutual trust between our two countries. He expressed optimism that the effective implementation of this agreement will initiate a new chapter of mutual prosperity.

Under the agreement, Bangladesh will enjoy significant benefits in both goods and service trade. Nearly 7,379 Bangladeshi products, including ready-made garments, will enjoy 100 percent duty-free access to the Japanese market. In return, Bangladesh is also expanding its market for Japan, allowing 1,039 Japanese products to gradually receive duty-free or preferential treatment.

It is noteworthy that with the inclusion of the ‘Single Stage Transformation’ facility in the garment sector, Bangladeshi garments can now be exported to Japan very easily without any complicated conditions regarding raw materials. In addition, opportunities will be created for Bangladeshi skilled professionals to work in 120 service sectors (Trade in Services) across nearly 16 areas such as IT, engineering, education, caregiving, and nursing in Japan, which will ensure more employment for the people of the country in Japan. On the other hand, Bangladesh has agreed to open 98 subsectors under 12 categories for Japan.

Along with an increase in trade volume, this is expected to boost Japanese investment (FDI) in sectors such as production, infrastructure, energy, and logistics. With advanced Japanese technology and investment, the quality of our domestic products will improve, making Bangladesh more competitive globally. Moreover, through the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the creation of a skilled workforce, this agreement will act as a strong tool for inclusive economic growth and overall socio-economic development of Bangladesh.