PRESS
RELEASE

The Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA), under the Prime Minister’s Office, hosted a seminar titled “Investment Potential in Fisheries and Marine Economy in Bangladesh” today at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Dhaka, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh. 

The seminar brought together policymakers, senior government officials, development partners, fisheries experts, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and prospective investors to examine how Bangladesh can unlock higher-value investment in its fisheries and marine economy.

The seminar focused on four high-potential areas where Bangladesh has significant resource depth but limited commercial scale: deep-sea fishing, mariculture, aquaculture and shrimp, and seafood processing. Discussions highlighted the scope for investment in industrial fishing fleets, offshore operations, landing and logistics systems, commercial mariculture, certified shrimp value chains, cold-chain infrastructure and modern seafood processing facilities.

Rear Admiral (Retd.) Khurshed Alam delivered the keynote address on investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s Blue Economy sector. The seminar also featured presentations by MIDA Executive Member Commodore Tanzim Faruq on Bangladesh’s shrimp industry; Dr. Echigo Manabu, JICA Fisheries Expert, on Japanese fishery market opportunities, tuna fishing in the Bay of Bengal and Japanese private-sector investment in Bangladesh; Mr. Sayed Ishtiak of Agrolink on deep-sea fishing potential; and Dr. Muhammad Tanvir Hossain Chowdhury of the Department of Fisheries (DoF) on prospects for mariculture and seafood processing in Bangladesh.

Special remarks were delivered by Mr. Md Delwar Hossain, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and Ms. Takahashi Junko, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office. 

In his special remarks, H.E. Takahashi Naoki, Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister at the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, said:

“This year has been especially significant for Bangladesh-Japan relations. In February, the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement was signed, creating an important foundation for further expanding trade, investment and broader economic cooperation between the two countries. Both sides have confirmed the importance of promoting trade, investment and public-private cooperation in the food sector, including fisheries, while making full use of the opportunities created by the EPA. In this context, today’s seminar is very timely. Bangladesh’s fisheries and marine economy are not only traditional strengths, but also promising frontiers for future investment, export diversification and regional development."

Delivering the closing remarks, Mr. Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of MIDA, said:

“MIDA's core pillar, the fisheries and marine economy hub, is a national mandate, and we are always in coordination with the government and the private sector. Bangladesh’s marine economy has significant potential, but investors need a clearer path from opportunity to implementation. We discussed the regulatory, infrastructural and institutional constraints that still need to be addressed, as well as the policy support and government commitment required to unlock investment. Important steps have already been taken, but MIDA’s role now is to work with relevant agencies, investors and partners to turn sector potential into bankable projects.” 

For the last few months we have done a number of consultations and we've also tried to push the internal government machinery to change the course of our country towards a genuine fishing exporting nation. What I can guarantee you is that there is definitely a genuine intent of the new leadership to have a much more coordinated effort across ministries to solve the investors' challenges.”

As a follow-up to the seminar, MIDA will work to develop a pipeline of investor interest based on expressions of intent from private-sector actors and development finance institutions seeking to engage further on specific investment concepts. MIDA will also consolidate the policy and regulatory bottlenecks identified through the presentations and panel discussion and carry these forward in structured engagement with the relevant ministries. The seminar also established a basis for continued MIDA–JICA collaboration on technical assistance and investment facilitation in the fisheries sector, with MIDA set to follow up with interested investors through its investment desk. 

About MIDA

The Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) is a statutory body established under the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority Act 2026, to plan and coordinate the integrated development of Maheshkhali and Matarbari — two strategically located coastal areas in Cox's Bazar — envisioned as one of Bangladesh's largest commercial hubs, combining logistics, energy, manufacturing, and fisheries, anchored by a deep-sea port with direct access to international shipping lines.
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Contact: 

Commodore Tanzim Faruq

Executive Member, MIDA

+880 1726-460592

Seminar presentations and FAQ:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WZO6tl8C4w48US14zuWGn6NHvX2mnd4B?usp=drive_link

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