Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday sought expanded investment from Japan’s Marubeni Corporation in Bangladesh’s IT, fertiliser and energy sectors, including a second KAFCO plant and a planned AI-based data centre.

He made the call when a high-level delegation of Marubeni Corporation, led by its President and CEO Masayuki Omoto, met him at his office in the Secretariat, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said the government is working to create a favourable investment climate to harness the country’s economic potential and generate new employment opportunities.

He welcomed Marubeni’s investment in Bangladesh’s IT, fertiliser and energy sectors and stressed the need to expand the company’s long-standing business ties with Bangladesh, particularly in jute products, into new areas of cooperation.

The meeting discussed the growing potential of Bangladesh’s IT sector and plans to develop skilled human resources in information technology and cybersecurity.

The government’s plans to enhance the IT and cybersecurity skills of engineering graduates also came up for discussion.

The meeting was told that Bangladesh could emerge as 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’s interest and potential investment in the sector.

The two sides also explored opportunities to expand the use of modern technology and artificial intelligence in agriculture, considering Bangladesh’s agrarian economy, and discussed possible investment and technological cooperation by Marubeni.

Marubeni’s existing investment in Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO) and the possibility of establishing a 2nd KAFCO plant in Bangladesh were also discussed, with the Japanese company expressing interest in the proposal.

The meeting expressed hope that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan, once it takes effect, will 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 the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, among others, attended the meeting.

Marubeni was represented by Susumu Wakamori, its CEO for Southwest Asia, and Manabu Sugawara, the company’s country head in Bangladesh.