To enhance Bangladesh-Japan trade relations, expand business opportunities, and showcase Bangladesh’s capabilities in the ICT sector, the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) organized the ‘BASIS Japan Day 2024’ at the Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel.

At the program, Iwama Kiminori, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, was the Chief Guest. Special Guests included the Secretary of the ICT Division, Shish Haider Chowdhury, and the Policy Advisor (ICT Coordination & Reform) of the ICT Division, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb.

Members of the BASIS Support Committee, representatives from various IT companies, Japanese business leaders, and officials from government and private organizations attended the event.

Dewan Samir, Co-Convener of BASIS Japan Day 2024, delivered the welcome speech. The session was moderated by AKM Ahmedul Islam Babu, Chairman of the BASIS Japan Desk.

Distinguished speakers at the event included Yasue YOSHINARI, Director, Vice President, University of Miyazaki; Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh; President of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI), Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (JUN), Hidenari NAGAYAMA, Vice Mayor of Miyazaki City, Hidenari Nagayama and Mayumi Murayama, Executive Vice President, IDE-JETRO were also delivered the speeches.

Two agreements were signed during the event. The first was a cooperation agreement between the BASIS Japan Desk and Miyazaki IT Plus. AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU signed the agreement on behalf of BASIS, while Noriaki OKADA, President of Miyazaki IT Plus, represented the Japanese side. The second agreement was concluded between Kawai and e-Growth.

A panel discussion titled “Digital Transformation: Scopes for Japan-Bangladesh Collaboration” was also held, and Fayez Ahmed Tayeb, Policy Advisor to the ICT Division, delivered the keynote speech.

At the program, Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the ICT Division, urged the Japanese Ambassador to facilitate employment opportunities for both skilled and semi-skilled Bangladeshi youth in Japan.

He said, “In this era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, ICT is the economy’s driving force. In Japan’s ICT sector, Bangladeshi youth are among the best professionals. Japan is a trusted friend, and with the support of the Japanese government and investors, we can strengthen our backbone further in the coming days.”

In his speech, Iwama Kiminori, Japan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of competition and collaboration in ICT development between the public and private sectors. He stated, “Long-term comprehensive planning is essential.

Improved business conditions will attract more investments from Japan to Bangladesh. Bangladesh has made significant progress in ICT and is a promising destination for Japanese investments. There is substantial potential for Bangladesh and Japan to work together in the ICT sector.”

However, at the end of the program, certificates were distributed to nine batches of graduates from the “B-MEET” Japanese Language Course Program, conducted in collaboration with BASIS and Miyazaki University.