PM invites Marubeni to invest in IT, fertiliser, energy

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday invited Japan’s Marubeni Corporation to invest in Bangladesh’s information technology (IT), fertiliser and energy sectors.
He made the call when a delegation led by Marubeni President and CEO Masayuki Omoto paid a courtesy call on him at the Bangladesh Secretariat, PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin said.
The prime minister noted the company’s longstanding business ties with Bangladesh in jute products and stressed the need to expand cooperation into new areas, Shadhin said.
Talks covered investment opportunities in IT, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, fertiliser and energy, including the possibility of a second Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) plant. 
Marubeni expressed interest in the proposal, Shadhin said, adding that the two sides also discussed expanding Marubeni’s existing investment in KAFCO.
On IT, the prime minister outlined the government’s plan to improve the skills of engineering graduates in IT and cybersecurity. According to Shadhin, the meeting noted that Bangladesh could become a major international service hub by drawing on its skilled workforce, technological capacity and competitive service offerings. 

The possibility of launching an AI-powered data centre in Bangladesh within the next 12 months also came up, along with potential Marubeni investment and technological cooperation in the project.
The two sides further discussed using modern technologies and AI to improve agricultural production and management, including through Marubeni investment and technical assistance.
Both sides expressed optimism that the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), once implemented, would strengthen trade and investment ties.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, the prime minister’s Adviser on Information and Technology Rehan Asif Asad and Special Assistant Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan were present.
Marubeni was also represented by Susumu Wakamori, its CEO for Southwest Asia, and Manabu Sugawara, its country head in Bangladesh.