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 foreign investment and unlock the country’s economic potential.
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 on Sunday morning, said Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.
During the meeting, Tarique Rahman highlighted the longstanding business ties between Bangladesh and Marubeni, particularly in jute products, and called for expanding cooperation into new sectors.
Discussions covered investment opportunities in IT, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, fertiliser and energy, alongside the possibility of establishing a second plant of Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) in Bangladesh.
The prime minister also highlighted the potential of Bangladesh’s IT sector, the development of skilled human resources and the country’s prospects for becoming an international service hub.
He said the government planned to enhance the skills of Bangladeshi engineering graduates in IT and cybersecurity to help the country capitalise on growing global demand for technology-based services.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of establishing an AI-powered data centre in Bangladesh within the next 12 months, with potential investment and technological cooperation from Marubeni.
Both sides explored opportunities to expand the use of modern technologies and AI in agriculture to improve production and farm management, including through potential investment and technical assistance from the Japanese conglomerate.
On fertiliser production, the discussions focused on expanding Marubeni’s existing investment in KAFCO and establishing a second fertiliser plant in the country. Marubeni expressed interest in the proposal, Shadhin said.
The meeting also expressed optimism that the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan would further strengthen bilateral trade and investment.
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.
