PM seeks Marubeni investment in AI data centre, 2nd Kafco plant
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office in the Secretariat and focused on investment in IT, AI, cybersecurity, fertiliser and energy, with a second Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (Kafco) plant also under consideration.
A high-level delegation led by Marubeni Corporation President and CEO Masayuki Omoto today (11 October) paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to discuss investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office in the Secretariat and focused on investment in IT, AI, cybersecurity, fertiliser and energy, with a second Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (Kafco) plant also under consideration.
Marubeni Corporation expressed interest in investing in various promising sectors in Bangladesh during the meeting, where discussions focused on expanding Japanese investment, strengthening bilateral trade ties and exploring new areas of cooperation in information technology, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, fertiliser and energy.
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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the government was working to create a favourable environment for domestic and foreign investment to harness the country's economic potential and generate employment.
He welcomed Marubeni Corporation's investment in Bangladesh's information technology, fertiliser and energy sectors.
The prime minister noted that Bangladesh had a longstanding business relationship with Marubeni Corporation in jute products and stressed the importance of expanding the existing partnership and extending cooperation to new sectors.
The company's representatives said they were seriously considering Bangladesh's investment potential.
The meeting also covered the growing prospects of Bangladesh's information technology sector and plans to develop a skilled workforce.
The government's plans to equip engineering graduates with skills in information technology and cybersecurity were discussed, with participants noting that Bangladesh could become an important international service hub by leveraging its skilled workforce, technological capabilities and competitive services.
Plans to launch an artificial intelligence-based data centre in Bangladesh within the next 12 months were also discussed, along with Marubeni Corporation's interest and potential investment in the sector.
Given Bangladesh's agriculture-based economy, the two sides explored opportunities to expand the use of modern technology and AI in agriculture, including the potential for Marubeni to increase its investment and technological cooperation in the sector.
The meeting also covered the expansion of Marubeni Corporation's existing investment in Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (Kafco) and the possibility of investing in a second Kafco plant in Bangladesh. The company expressed interest in the proposal.
The participants expressed hope that the implementation of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan would further strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries.
Among those present were State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister's Adviser on Information and Technology Rehan Asif Asad and Prime Minister's Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan.
Representing Marubeni Corporation were Susumu Wakamori, the company's chief executive officer for Southwest Asia, and Manabu Sugawara, its country head in Bangladesh.
