Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged Japanese apparel giant Uniqlo to expand its investment in Bangladesh’s garment industry, particularly in man-made fibres, technical textiles and sustainable clothing production.

The prime minister held a meeting on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. local time in Japan with a delegation led by Tadashi Yanai, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd., Uniqlo’s parent company.

During the meeting, Rahman praised Uniqlo’s confidence in Bangladesh and acknowledged Fast Retailing’s longstanding business ties with the country.

He encouraged the company to increase investment in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector, highlighting opportunities in synthetic fibres, technical textiles and environmentally sustainable apparel manufacturing.

The discussions also covered potential cooperation in technology transfer, workforce skills development, product innovation, advanced manufacturing systems and environmentally friendly production processes.

Rahman said the Bangladeshi government was prepared to provide the necessary support to help Uniqlo expand its operations in the country. He highlighted the government’s willingness to facilitate access to land, investment approvals and other essential administrative clearances.

Both sides also reaffirmed the importance of implementing the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), expressing optimism that the deal would help strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries.

The meeting underscored Bangladesh’s efforts to attract greater Japanese investment and diversify its garment manufacturing capabilities through advanced technology, higher-value products and more sustainable production.