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Japanese consumer goods companies are operating strongly in neighbouring countries like India, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. I believe the time is turning ripe for them to enter the Bangladesh market. Perhaps the success of a flagship investment like JTI’s can also help attract such companies.

DS: How is the JTI coping with Covid-19 challenges? Are you supporting the underserved community in any shape or form?

Coupland : As the Covid-19 crisis escalated in Bangladesh last year, the JTI provided support that directly benefitted approximately 60,000 people across the country. A special Covid-19 fund was mobilised to provide essential food and hygiene commodities to the underserved communities as well as protective equipment to the high-risk frontline workers.

JTI has been positively impacting lives in Bangladesh since 2015, through the launch of community investment initiatives to improve access to water sanitation & hygiene (WASH) and disaster management. These initiatives are designed to uplift close to 90,000 beneficiaries in underserved communities across Bangladesh, through partnership with various local and international non-governmental organisations.

Giving back to the society is a key part of who we are at JTI and we want to stand by the distressed and support the most vulnerable by building more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities.

The JTI has been very impressed with the increasingly rapid development of Bangladesh. As the country celebrates 50 years of history, it is fair to say that this story is what attracted our company to come here. However, we have invested in Bangladesh for the long run, the next 50 years and beyond.