JBCCI gets new board for 2026-28 term

The Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) has elected a new 16-member board of directors for the 2026-28 term, with Kazuiki Kataoka as president.

The new board was formally introduced at the chamber’s 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Hotel Lakeshore in Dhaka on Sunday.

Around 240 general members, board members and distinguished guests from different organisations attended the AGM, moderated by JBCCI Executive Director Tahera Ahsan.

Outgoing President Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan welcomed the participants and highlighted JBCCI’s role in strengthening bilateral trade relations between Japan and Bangladesh.

Secretary General Maria Howlader FCA presented the chamber’s major activities from November 2025 to September 2026. She said JBCCI’s membership had increased to 391 companies from 369 the previous year, reflecting growing business engagement between the two countries.

Joint Treasurer Md Jahangir Alam Sharker CPA presented the audited annual financial report, saying the chamber maintained sustainable financial growth while focusing on transparency, accountability and prudent financial management.

The AGM also welcomed new members and approved the appointment of Shafiq Mizan Rahman & Augustine, Chartered Accountants, as the auditor for the 2026-27 financial year.

The new board includes Abu Zaman Md Tariqul Islam and Syed Samiul Huq as vice-presidents, Rabiul Alam as secretary general, Kenji Kimura as treasurer, Oliver Kutz as joint secretary general and Saumitra Kumar Mutsuddi as joint treasurer.

Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), Hiroaki Oura, Kabir Ahmed, Atsushi Hirakuri, AKM Ahmedul Islam Babu, Kenichiro Kawamoto, Farzanah Chowdhury, Hironori Yamanaka and Mudassir Murtaza Moin were elected directors.

Manabu Sugawara and Abdul Haque were elected as advisers to the board.

In his speech, President-Elect Kazuiki Kataoka thanked the outgoing leadership and members for their contributions.

He said the chamber would focus on highlighting Japan’s contributions to Bangladesh through trade, investment, infrastructure development and business activities.

He also stressed the need to make better use of the knowledge and expertise of JBCCI’s nearly 400 member companies through seminars, knowledge-sharing sessions, networking and other member-driven initiatives.

Chief guest Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh SAIDA Shinichi congratulated the new leadership and praised the outgoing board for its service.

Highlighting JBCCI’s growth from just over 20 members to nearly 400, the ambassador stressed the importance of strong governance, institutional relevance and delivering tangible benefits to members.

He said Japan remained a trusted development and business partner of Bangladesh and welcomed the Economic Partnership Agreement signed in February with support from JBCCI.

SAIDA expressed optimism that several Japanese investment initiatives currently in the pipeline would materialise in due course. He also called for industrial diversification, development of upstream industries, removal of unnecessary regulatory barriers and creation of employment opportunities for young people.

He stressed the need for a transparent and sustainable relationship between business and politics to support long-term economic development.

The ambassador reaffirmed the Japanese Embassy’s continued support for JBCCI and encouraged the chamber to strengthen its role in expanding trade, investment and business cooperation between the two countries.

JBCCI Vice-President Hiroaki Oura delivered the vote of thanks, expressing appreciation to the outgoing leadership and members for their support and wishing the new board success in continuing the chamber’s initiatives.