H.E Tamotsu Shinotsuka- Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh visited BGMEA Office on 1^st February, 2011 at the invitation of BGMEA. His Excellency met with Mr. Faruque Hassan, Vice President-BGMEA to discuss bi-lateral matters. Among others Group Captain (Retd) Md. Mostafizur Rahman-Secretary, BGMEA and Adnan Nafis-Deputy Secretary, BGMEA were present. Mr. Faruque Hassan requested H.E Ambassador to simplify the Rules of Origin. He informed the Ambassador about the trade between Japan and Bangladesh. In FY 2009-10 total apparel exports to Japan was worth USD 173.32 million which is 133.38% higher than previous year. In FY 2009-10, out of Bangladesh’s total apparel export around 1.40% went to Japan which was only 0.60% in FY 2008-09. He said that EU has already simplified the Rules of Origin by making it Single Stage from Two Stages. If the Japanese Government makes it Single Stage for Bangladeshi Apparel it is the Japanese consumers who will benefit more. He expressed his gratitude to the Japan Government as Bangladesh received more US$7 billion worth of aid from the Japanese Government since independence. In FY 2009-10 among the bilateral donors, Japan tops the list in terms of cumulative disbursement ($ 78.519 million) followed by USA and Canada. He requested more technical support in the areas of quality improvement and fashion. He also requested Japanese Government to provide our students with scholarships so they can study Fashion designing in Japan.

H.E Tamotsu Shinotsuka expressed his satisfaction with BGMEA for leading Bangladesh to industrialization. He informed that he is doing his utmost to reduce complication of the Rules of Origin and said that the Japan Government is actively working to simplify it and that very soon there will good news for the apparel exporters. He praised BGMEA’s initiatives for improving the member’s productivity, compliance and different CSR activities. He appreciated BMGEA’s research related activities for publishing Market Briefs on Emerging Markets. He informed that he would request the concerned agencies to provide assistance to technical training and BGMEA Hospitals. H.E Ambassador requested BGMEA to provide all kind of support to Japanese investors in Bangladesh and said that Japan is looking to source more from Bangladesh.