Desk Report:
Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh have jointly organized a seminar to attract domestic and foreign investment in Bangladesh’s fisheries and marine economy (blue economy).
Policymakers, high-ranking government officials, development partners, fisheries experts, industrialists and potential investors participated in the seminar titled “Investment Potential in Fisheries and Marine Economy in Bangladesh” held at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the capital on Monday (June 29, 2026).
The seminar discussed in detail four potential sectors of Bangladesh’s fisheries and marine economy—deep-sea fishing, mariculture, aquaculture and shrimp industry, and modern seafood processing.
The discussion highlighted the huge investment potential in industrial fishing fleets, offshore operations, fish landing and logistics systems, commercial mariculture, international standard shrimp value chains, cold-chain infrastructure and modern seafood processing industries.
Retired Rear Admiral Md. Khurshed Alam presented a keynote speech on investment opportunities in the blue economy sector.
Commodore Tanjim Faruk, Executive Member of MIDA, also spoke on the shrimp industry in Bangladesh. Dr. Echigo Manabu, Fisheries Expert of JICA, presented on the potential of Japanese private investment in the fisheries sector in Bangladesh. Syed Ishtiaq of Agrolink spoke on the potential of deep sea fishing and Dr. Muhammad Tanvir Hossain Chowdhury of the Department of Fisheries highlighted the potential of mariculture and seafood processing.
Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md. Delwar Hossain and Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Office Takahashi Junko participated in the special speech.
Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Takahashi Naoki of the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh said that this year is very important for Bangladesh-Japan relations. In February, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) was signed between the two countries, which has created a new foundation for further expansion of trade, investment and economic cooperation. He said that it is possible to utilize the opportunities of this agreement by strengthening public-private partnerships in the food and fisheries sectors. He also mentioned that Bangladesh’s fisheries and marine economy is one of the potential sectors for future investment, export diversification and regional development.
In his closing speech, MIDA Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury said that MIDA is working in coordination with the government and the private sector to promote fisheries and marine economy as a national priority. He said that although Bangladesh’s marine economy has huge potential, it is necessary to make the path from opportunity to implementation easier for investors. To this end, MIDA will work with relevant agencies to remove policy, infrastructure and institutional barriers.
He further said that in the last few months, initiatives have been taken to transform Bangladesh into a genuine fish exporting country through continuous consultations with various stakeholders. He also said that the new leadership is determined to work more coordinatedly among various ministries to resolve the problems of investors.
As a next step of the seminar, MIDA will create a pipeline of various investment projects based on the interest of potential investors. In addition, initiatives will be taken to resolve the policy and regulatory barriers that emerged during the discussions through coordination with the relevant ministries. In addition, MIDA and JICA will continue to work jointly to provide technical assistance and facilitate investment in the fisheries sector.
It is worth noting that the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) is a statutory body established under the 2026 Act. The organization’s main goal is to develop Maheshkhali and Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar into one of the largest commercial centers in Bangladesh, combining logistics, energy, manufacturing, and fisheries sectors, centered around a deep seaport.
