Dhaka:Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has extended an invitation to Japanese business conglomerate Marubeni Corporation to invest in Bangladesh's information technology, fertilizer, and energy sectors. This invitation was made during a meeting with a Marubeni delegation led by President and CEO Masayuki Omoto at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Prime Minister emphasized the longstanding business relationship with Marubeni, particularly in jute products, and expressed the need for expanding cooperation into new sectors. The discussions included investment opportunities in IT, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fertilizer, and energy.
The meeting explored the potential for Bangladesh to develop as an international service hub, leveraging its skilled workforce and technological capabilities. Prime Minister Rahman discussed plans to enhance the skills of Bangladeshi engineering graduates in IT and cybersecurity, and the possibility of launching an AI-powered data center within the next year with Marubeni's assistance.
Agricultural advancements through modern technologies and AI were also on the agenda, with Marubeni's investment and technical support considered. In the fertilizer sector, the possibility of establishing a second Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) plant was discussed, and Marubeni showed interest in expanding its existing investments.
The meeting concluded with optimism regarding the upcoming Economic Partnership Agreement between Bangladesh and Japan, which is expected to further strengthen trade and investment ties. The meeting was attended by 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. Marubeni was represented by Susumu Wakamori, Chief Executive Officer for Southwest Asia, and Manabu Sugawara, the company's Country Head in Bangladesh.