The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.

Md Jashim Uddin, president of the FBCCI, and Ken Kobayashi, JCCI chairman, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations at the Westin in Japan's Tokyo.

Under the MoU, the parties will cooperate with each other to develop more productive contacts between the businesses of the two countries, according to a statement from the FBCCI.

The MoU was signed at the inauguration of the summit on trade and investment opportunities between Bangladesh and Japan.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the chief guest at the inauguration.

"We hope the ongoing discussions to ease and support the businesses from both sides through the gateway of RCEP [Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership] by 2026 will serve to further strengthen our ties," Jashim Uddin said in the statement.