BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), in collaboration with the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO) and sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, hosted an international seminar titled “Reconnecting the Bay of Bengal Region: Exploring the Convergence of Interests” on Sunday, 22 December 2024, at the BIISS auditorium. H E Mr Md Touhid Hossain, Honourable Adviser for Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended the seminar as the Chief Guest, while H E Ambassador IWAMA Kiminori, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, graced the occasion as the Special Guest. Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, Chairman, BIISS, Chaired the inaugural  session and Major General Iftekhar Anis, BSP, awc, afwc, psc, PEng, Director General of BIISS, delivered the welcome address. Apart from the inaugural session, the seminar featured two working sessions. The first working session, chaired by Ambassador Tarik A Karim, Chairperson of the Bay of Bengal Institute, Cosmos Foundation; included presentations by Mr UMEZAKI So, Director of Economic Integration Studies Group, IDE-JETRO, on “Strengthening Convergence of Interests in the Bay of Bengal Region: Leveraging Trade, Investment, and Technology for Economic Growth,” and Dr Selim Raihan, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, on “Bangladesh’s LDC Graduation Journey: Exploring Prospects for Regional Collaboration in the Bay of Bengal.” The second working session, chaired by Dr Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), included a presentation by Dr KIMURA Fukunari, President of IDE-JETRO, on “Connectivity and Economic Growth: Lessons from ASEAN Experiences to South Asia.” Panellists for this session included Dr M Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh; Professor TSUBOTA Kenmei, Toyo University; Mr Shams Mahmud, President of the Bangladesh-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr YAMADA Eiji, Senior Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office; and Mr Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), President of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI). The seminar facilitated a vibrant discussion among distinguished participants from government, academia, and the business community, focusing on enhancing regional connectivity and fostering economic growth in the Bay of Bengal region.