JBCCI gets new board with Kazuiki Kataoka as president

The Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) on Sunday introduced its new 16-member board for the October 2026-September 2028 term, with Kazuiki Kataoka as president, at its 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The AGM, held at a hotel in Dhaka, set out the chamber’s agenda for strengthening bilateral trade and investment, with a focus on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) readiness, business matching, and member engagement.

Kazuiki Kataoka said the chamber would highlight Japan’s economic and infrastructural contribution to Bangladesh while making greater use of the expertise of its nearly 400 member companies through knowledge-sharing and networking.

New Secretary General Rabiul Alam said the incoming board would build on the chamber’s foundation as Bangladesh-Japan economic ties evolve.

Outgoing President Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun) highlighted the longstanding trust between the two countries, calling for an investor-friendly environment, stronger policy advocacy, and greater women’s participation.

Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh SAIDA Shinichi, the chief guest, congratulated the new leadership and praised the outgoing board. He said JBCCI’s membership growth from 20 to 391 reflects its growing relevance to bilateral ties between the two countries.

Reaffirming Japan’s commitment as Bangladesh’s trusted development and economic partner, he described the EPA, signed in February, as an important milestone.  He also expressed optimism that Japanese investment projects in the pipeline would materialise, calling for industrial diversification, fewer regulatory barriers, and more jobs for young people.

JBCCI Secretary General Maria Howlader highlighted the chamber’s focus and identified the EPA readiness, resolving investor issues, business matching, and greater participation of women and young leaders as its key priorities.

The AGM approved the organisation’s annual financial report and proposed Shafiq Mizan Rahman and Augustine, chartered accountants, as auditors for FY27.

The new board also includes Vice Presidents Abu Zaman Md Tariqul Islam and Syed Samiul Huq, Treasurer Kenji Kimura, Joint Secretary General Oliver Kutz, and Joint Treasurer Saumitra Kumar Mutsuddi, among others.

Nearly 240 representatives from member organisations, businesses, government agencies, the Embassy of Japan, and the media attended the AGM.