|| Special Correspondent: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Japan is expected to open new avenues for Japanese investment in Bangladesh, strengthen bilateral economic ties and inject fresh momentum into the two countries’ Strategic Partnership, with a particular focus on infrastructure, trade, industrial cooperation and employment generation.Tarique Rahman will pay an official visit to Japan from October 26 to 29 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The two governments formally announced the visit on October 20.Tokyo views the visit as an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding, reinforce shared priorities and build greater confidence among Japanese investors as Bangladesh seeks to accelerate economic growth and attract foreign capital.“Japan welcomes Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's first visit to Japan as Prime Minister,” the Economic Section of the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka said in response to a query from BSS about Tokyo’s expectations.During the visit, the two prime ministers are scheduled to hold high-level bilateral talks at Takaichi’s office in Tokyo on October 27. The Japanese prime minister will also host a luncheon in honour of her Bangladeshi counterpart, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said at a media briefing at the Foreign Ministry.Economic cooperation is expected to dominate the discussions, reflecting Bangladesh’s efforts to attract investment, create jobs, expand exports and strengthen its industrial base.Japan has indicated that investor sentiment is improving in view of the new government’s pro-business policies. The Japanese side also highlighted the need to improve the investment environment, advance infrastructure cooperation and strengthen human and institutional capacity.The prime minister is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum, where he will meet Japanese business leaders to discuss investment opportunities, trade expansion and industrial cooperation.His tentative programme includes meetings with representatives of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League and the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation.Meetings are also being planned with the presidents of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the chairman of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.The proposed itinerary includes visits to an LNG terminal and a power plant in Futtsu City, Chiba, the headquarters of UNIQLO and a Toyota factory in Nagoya. These engagements are expected to provide opportunities to explore cooperation in energy, manufacturing, technology and industrial development.A major objective of the visit is to translate the longstanding partnership into fresh investment commitments and practical economic benefits for Bangladesh.The two sides are expected to discuss the effective implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed in February 2026, and ways to expand access for Bangladeshi products to the Japanese market.The agreement is expected to provide a framework for stronger trade relations, while improved market access could create opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters to diversify products and reach more Japanese consumers.Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said memorandums of understanding or cooperation agreements might be announced in areas including agriculture, fisheries, human resource development, skills enhancement, civil aviation, trade, environmental conservation and modernisation of local government.Detailed discussions are also planned on Japanese support for establishing factories in Bangladesh, generating employment and developing a skilled workforce in line with the prime minister’s priorities.For Bangladesh, attracting Japanese investment could help expand industrial production, create jobs for young people and strengthen the transfer of modern technology and management practices. However, the extent of these benefits will depend on how effectively agreements and investment proposals are implemented after the visit.The Japanese Embassy’s Economic Section stressed that the visit would provide an opportunity to address investment-related challenges, reinforce business confidence and lay a sound foundation for future economic initiatives.Japan also underscored the importance of effective follow-up to high-level discussions, saying progress in ongoing cooperation would help build confidence among businesses and encourage further investment.Beyond trade and investment, the two countries are expected to discuss regional and international peace and stability, a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the Rohingya crisis and stronger cooperation in addressing energy challenges.Japan has remained one of Bangladesh’s major development partners since independence, supporting infrastructure construction, human resource development and institutional capacity building.Its cooperation has contributed to several major projects, including Dhaka’s metro rail, the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and infrastructure development at Matarbari.The visit comes as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen its economic resilience, attract foreign direct investment and expand international partnerships. Japan, meanwhile, has expressed interest in advancing cooperation that supports regional stability and shared prosperity.The Strategic Partnership established between the two countries in 2023 provides the broader framework for this engagement.The success of Tarique Rahman’s visit will ultimately depend not only on the agreements announced in Tokyo but also on their timely implementation, the removal of investment barriers and the creation of a predictable business environment.If the discussions lead to concrete investment decisions, stronger market access and faster progress on development projects, the visit could mark an important step towards a more dynamic Bangladesh-Japan economic partnership.