JICA Holds Special Seminar on Development Cooperation in a Complex Global Environment

[Dhaka, 17 September 2026] The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh Office convened a seminar titled "Development Corporation in a Complex Global Environment – Perspectives on Japan's ODA and Future Partnerships" at Holiday Inn, Dhaka, bringing together senior government officials to reflect on the evolving role of international development corporation and the future direction of the Japan-Bangladesh partnership.

The seminar was graced by Md. Abdul Bari, State Minister, Ministry of Public Administration, who attended as Chief Guest. Mr. Saida Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, and Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), attended as Special Guests.

The event opened with remarks from Ms. Junko Takahashi, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office. A central highlight of the evening was the keynote lecture delivered by Prof. Hiroshi Nakanishi, Kyoto University; which was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Ryutaro Murotani, Senior Deputy Director General of Operations Strategy Dept., JICA HQs. 

The panel brought together distinguished speakers, including Mr. Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of ERD; Dr. Mohammad Manirul Islam, Additional Secretary, Career Planning and Training Wing, Ministry of Public Administration; Prof. S.M. Ali Reza, Dhaka University; Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi, Kyoto University; and Ms. Junko Takahashi, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office.

In her welcome remarks, JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Junko Takahashi said, “Bangladesh's transformation from a newly independent nation to one of the world's fastest-growing economies stands as a remarkable example of national vision, resilience, and leadership. Japan is proud to have been a trusted partner throughout this journey.” 

Professor Hiroshi Nakanishi, Kyoto University, in his keynote lecture marked the evolving role of development cooperation, “Development cooperation has evolved significantly over the past decades in response to changes in the global environment. As we enter an era shaped by great power competition and economic security, Japan and Bangladesh must continue to adapt their partnership while building on the strong foundation of their longstanding cooperation.”

Noting the change in global operating environment, Mr. Md. Abdul Bari, Honourable State Minister of MoPA, highlighted Japan’s longstanding contributions to public sector capacity building and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in public administration reform and the development of a professional, merit-based civil service.

Mr. SAIDA Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, said, “As Bangladesh advances toward middle-income status, our partnership must also evolve. We should gradually shift our focus from aid to business, while strengthening cooperation in areas such as investment, manufacturing, and start-up promotion to create new opportunities for sustainable growth.”

Mr. Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), emphasized that as Bangladesh advances toward its next stage of development, the country seeks deeper partnerships that foster knowledge sharing, innovation, and institutional capacity. He noted that addressing priorities such as competitiveness, governance, sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience, and human capital development will require stronger collaboration among all stakeholders. 

The seminar served as a platform for dialogue on how Bangladesh and Japan can deepen their partnership in response to an increasingly complex global environment. Participants emphasized the importance of co-creation, knowledge sharing, human resource development, and institutional strengthening as the foundation for addressing shared challenges and building a prosperous, resilient, and sustainable future.