The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) hosted a four-day “Urban Environmental Business Study Tour” in Bangladesh for delegates from nine Japanese firms focused on environmental solutions.
The tour, concluded on July 23, aimed to explore collaboration opportunities between Japanese companies and local stakeholders to address Bangladesh’s urban environmental challenges, according to a press statement by JICA.
Bangladesh’s rapid urbanisation has led to environmental issues like unplanned waste disposal, inadequate wastewater treatment, poor sewerage coverage, and deteriorating air quality. To address these challenges, JICA facilitated the visit of Japanese firms specializing in relevant technologies.
During the study tour, the delegation visited key sites such as Secondary Transfer Stations (STS), sanitary landfill sites, sewage treatment plants, and groundwater purification facilities. The visits provided participants with firsthand insights into the environmental challenges and potential solutions in Bangladesh’s urban areas.
The tour also highlighted future business opportunities for Japanese companies to contribute to Bangladesh’s environmental sector through JICA’s Private Sector Partnership and SDGs Business Support (JICA Biz) program that helps businesses develop sustainable models aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
JICA emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration between Japan and Bangladesh to address pressing environmental issues and promote a cleaner, more sustainable future for the country.
The event provided a platform for knowledge sharing and reinforced the potential for future cooperation between Japanese innovation and Bangladesh’s development needs, JICA added.