The Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) held its 19th Annual General Meeting at Hotel Lakeshore, attended by 160 guests, including members, board members, and distinguished participants.
The event was moderated by Md Emran, executive director of JBCCI, and opened with welcoming remarks from Sugawara Manabu, president of JBCCI, who emphasized the organization’s contributions to fostering Japan-Bangladesh trade relations.
Md Anwar Shahid, secretary general of JBCCI, presented a review of activities from October 2023 to October 2024, detailing seminars, networking events, and government meetings that were instrumental in strengthening business ties.
Kenji Kimura, treasurer, shared the audited Annual Financial Report and proposed the appointment of "Shafiq Mizan Rahman and Augustine, Chartered Accountants" as auditors for FY 2024-2025.
JBCCI’s members expressed appreciation for its efforts to address key business issues.
The AGM welcomed new JBCCI members and introduced the newly elected Board of Directors, with Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) taking over as President.
The names of the New Board Members are: Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), president, Hiroaki Oura, vice president, Md Anwar Shahid, vice president, Maria Howlader, secretary general, Yuji Ando, joint secretary general, Kenji Kimura, treasurer, Md Jahangir Alam Sharker, joint treasurer, Manabu Sugawara, director, Mohammed Sohel, director, Md Shariful Alam, director, Nayeemur Rahman, director, Saori Fujimoto, director, AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU, director, Hiroshi Uegaki, director, Rabiul Alam, director, Atsushi Hirakuri, director, Asif A Chowdhury, advisor to the board.
The board vowed to continue driving JBCCI’s goals with renewed energy, marking the transition to a new chapter in the organization’s history.
The AGM also celebrated JBCCI’s 20th Anniversary, acknowledging two decades of impactful contributions to the business community. Founding leaders, including Matiur Rahman, Abdul Haque, and Dr AKM Moazzem Hussain, reflected on the origins of JBCCI and their hopes for its future.
The chief guest, HE Iwama Kiminori, Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, congratulated JBCCI on its achievements and underscored the organization’s role as a bridge for economic relations between the two nations.
He highlighted JBCCI’s efforts in promoting the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), noting the successful progress of negotiations, including the recent second round despite changes in Bangladesh’s government.
Ambassador Iwama called for ongoing collaboration to enhance the business environment in Bangladesh, aiming to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Japan and beyond. He encouraged both nations to work closely, especially as Bangladesh advances beyond its Least Developed Country (LDC) status. He also acknowledged the importance of JBCCI’s initiatives in shaping a positive business climate.
The AGM concluded with a vote of thanks by M Jalalul Hai, vice president of JBCCI, expressing gratitude to all attendees and members for their continued support. The event not only celebrated JBCCI’s past achievements but also set the tone for its future endeavors, reinforcing the importance of Japan-Bangladesh economic relations and the chamber’s commitment to facilitating growth and development.