Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has invited Japanese business conglomerate Marubeni Corporation to invest in Bangladesh’s information technology (IT), fertiliser and energy sectors as the government seeks to attract domestic and foreign investment.
The invitation came when a high-level delegation led by Marubeni President and CEO Masayuki Omoto paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat, said his Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.
During the meeting, Tarique Rahman highlighted the longstanding business ties between Bangladesh and Marubeni, particularly in jute products, and stressed the need to expand cooperation into new sectors.
The discussions covered investment opportunities in IT, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, fertiliser and energy, as well as the possibility of establishing a second Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) plant in Bangladesh.
The two sides also discussed the potential of the country’s IT sector, skilled workforce development and the prospect of positioning Bangladesh as an international service hub.
The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s plan to enhance the IT and cybersecurity skills of Bangladeshi engineering graduates, noting that the country could become a major international service hub by leveraging its skilled workforce, technological capabilities and competitive services.
The possibility of launching an AI-powered data centre in Bangladesh within the next 12 months was also discussed, alongside potential investment and technological cooperation from Marubeni.
The meeting further explored the use of modern technologies and AI in agriculture to improve production and management, with Marubeni potentially providing investment and technical assistance.
On fertiliser production, the two sides discussed expanding Marubeni’s existing investment in KAFCO and establishing a second plant in the country. Marubeni expressed interest in the proposal, Shadhin said.
The meeting also expressed optimism that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan, once implemented, would further strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Technology Rehan Asif Asad and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan attended the meeting.
Marubeni was represented by its Chief Executive Officer for Southwest Asia Susumu Wakamori and its Country Head in Bangladesh Manabu Sugawara.
