Marubeni eyes new investments in Bangladesh

Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corporation is interested in expanding its existing investments in Bangladesh and entering new industrial sectors, including fertiliser production, information technology and ship recycling.

The corporation also sees opportunities to modernise the Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO), improve natural gas efficiency and increase fertiliser production capacity. The Japanese trading group is an equity investor in KAFCO.

Marubeni President and CEO Masayuki Omoto discussed the investment opportunities at a meeting with Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir at the commerce ministry office in Dhaka yesterday, according to a press ministry statement.

Omoto also expressed interest in new investments and technological cooperation in the production of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilisers.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s potential in the information technology sector, he noted that hundreds of Bangladeshi engineers employed by Bangladesh Japan Information Technology (BJIT), a joint investment venture, were providing services to international markets, including Japan.

He said there were further opportunities to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence and IT offshoring.

The discussions also covered investment in modern, environmentally friendly technologies for the ship recycling industry, a proposal for Toyota vehicle manufacturing and ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply to economic zones.

Small modular reactor (SMR) technology was also discussed as a potential option for ensuring long-term energy security, the ministry statement said.

Muktadir said the government was prioritising the simplification of company registration, trade licensing and investment approval procedures. It was also working to ensure that foreign investors could repatriate profits and capital.

He assured that Japanese companies looking to expand their investments in Bangladesh would receive the necessary government support.

The minister said Japanese technology, expertise and investment could play a significant role in developing Bangladesh’s manufacturing industries.

There were opportunities to expand joint ventures in shipbuilding and ship recycling, automobiles, agro-based industries and high-technology sectors, he said, adding that the government was advancing necessary reforms to facilitate investment in these areas.

He also said efforts were underway to move the jute industry beyond conventional products towards diversified, higher-value goods. Priorities included developing new products by blending jute fibres with cotton, viscose and polyester, improving seeds and expanding research activities.

Both sides also discussed the importance of deepening Bangladesh-Japan economic relations, capitalising on the potential benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the two countries, and expanding long-term partnerships in industry and technology.

Marubeni, one of Japan’s major general trading companies, operates across sectors ranging from food and agriculture to energy, infrastructure and technology. The group reported revenue of ¥7.79 trillion in the fiscal year ended March 2025 and employed more than 52,000 people worldwide, according to its Integrated Report 2025 and financial results.

In Bangladesh, Marubeni has a business and capital alliance with local IT service company BJIT Group. Under the alliance announced in April 2023, Marubeni invested in BJIT Ltd, the group’s core company, and BJIT Global Pte Ltd, which manages overseas sales, to expand offshore digital transformation services, according to a Marubeni announcement.

Marubeni has also installed about 1,300 megawatts of gas-fired and hydropower plants in Bangladesh and supplied the entire railway system for Dhaka Metro Rail’s MRT Line 6, according to a company statement issued in April 2023.