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Dhaka, June 1, 2025: Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, announced that Japan is set to make a significant investment in the Matarbari project. He made the statement during a press briefing on contemporary issues held at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday (June 1).
Shafiqul Alam said, “Japan will collaborate on the master plan for the Matarbari project, contributing a major portion of the $29 million investment. Discussions with Japan’s main investment agency, JETRO, have received a positive response.” He added that encouraging Japanese businesses to invest in Bangladesh and resolving visa complexities were also discussed. Additionally, opportunities have emerged for sending Bangladeshi workers to Japan’s manpower market, with Japan expressing interest in recruiting 100,000 workers over the next five years.
On the same day, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus called on Chinese investors to invest in Bangladesh during the inauguration of the day-long China-Bangladesh Business and Investment Conference. He urged, “Invest in Bangladesh to transform it into a manufacturing hub. Sectors like garments, energy, agriculture, jute, and information technology hold immense potential.”
Dr. Yunus further noted, “Half of Bangladesh’s workforce is under 30 years old and ready to join the labor market. I call on Chinese businesses to utilize their skills.” The conference, jointly organized by the Bangladesh and Chinese governments, saw participation from around 250 investors and business representatives from 100 Chinese companies.
The Matarbari Deep-Sea Port project is a critical step for Bangladesh’s economy, expected to overcome the capacity limitations of Chittagong and Payra ports and boost export potential. The project’s cost has been set at Tk 24,381 crore, with completion anticipated by December 2029.
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