Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) has placed a proposal to the government, seeking to conduct a consumer market research during the upcoming Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2018, officials said.
With the support of IDE (Institute of Developing Economies) JETRO and Uniqlo, JETRO plans to do the research on issues that influence consumer income, expenditure and saving behaviour.
"JETRO has offered to conduct a market research in Bangladesh. We don't see any problem regarding the issue. They can do it," Commerce Secretary Subhashish Bose told the FE.
Bangladesh is yet to materialise its market potentials due to lack of reliable market information, according to market-insiders.
The objective of the market research/survey by JETRO is to provide authentic consumer market information to Japanese companies in order to make them interested in Bangladesh market.
In a letter to the ministry of commerce (MoC), JETRO has requested the government to allocate any suitable space in the DITF 2018 to it free of cost.
JETRO believes that the market research/survey will eventually contribute to the economic development of Bangladesh.
"It is a good news. We appreciate their (Japanese) interest in conducting a market research in Bangladesh," President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) told the FE.
During his recent visit to Japan, he said, Japanese entrepreneurs have expressed keen interest in expanding bilateral trade and investment with Bangladesh.
JETRO, the official trade and investment promotion agency under the ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, has been working to promote trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world to achieve a balanced global trade.
"We strongly believe, using this opportunity, Japanese companies can closely access and gather more knowledge about the consumer behaviour in Bangladesh that make them interested in Bangladesh market," said JETRO.
Besides, it will motivate Japanese investors/entrepreneurs to go for new investments to help expand mutual trade between the two countries, it added.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com