Bangladesh-Japan FOC to Be Held in Tokyo on May 15

Bangladesh and Japan will hold the sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Tokyo on May 15, 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.

The meeting follows the elevation of bilateral ties to a “Strategic Partnership” and builds upon previous diplomatic engagements.

Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin will lead the Bangladesh delegation, which will include senior officials, notably Mohammed Nore-Alam, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A senior foreign ministry official said Japan has been a longstanding and reliable development partner since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. The upcoming consultations are viewed as a key platform to deepen bilateral cooperation in a changing geopolitical landscape, especially ahead of interim government head Professor Dr. Mohammad Yunus’s scheduled visit to Japan later in May.

Bangladesh is expected to urge Japan to enhance engagement in priority development projects, including initiatives related to the repatriation and rehabilitation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

The agenda will cover a wide range of topics, including trade, commerce, investment, infrastructure development, defence and security cooperation, cultural exchange, and people-to-people contacts. Both sides are also likely to reaffirm their commitment to regional stability and sustainable Rohingya repatriation.

“The FOC is expected to play a crucial role in advancing the bilateral relationship and taking it to a new height,” said the foreign ministry official.

He noted that enhanced economic assistance and greater Japanese investment are needed to transition from a comprehensive partnership to a more strategic one, with focus areas including agriculture, climate change, renewable energy, the blue economy, and science and technology.

In 2024, trade between the two countries remained robust. Japan exported goods worth $1.51 billion to Bangladesh, mainly iron and steel, plastics, and organic chemicals. Bangladesh exported $1.55 billion worth of products to Japan, including men’s woven garments and suits. The trade volume is expected to grow in 2025, with positive projections for Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh.

The upcoming FOC follows several key bilateral milestones. The fifth FOC was held in Dhaka on June 27, 2024, led by then Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Japan’s Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, ONO Keiichi. Additionally, the fifth round of negotiations for the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) took place in Tokyo from April 20–26, 2025.

Bangladesh and Japan have agreed to sign the EPA by late 2025 or early 2026 to deepen trade and investment ties. To support the EPA process, the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) has formed a standing committee and commissioned the Policy Exchange of Bangladesh Ltd to prepare a comprehensive EPA Study Report.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori has lauded these initiatives, expressing hope for stronger economic integration between the two countries.