The Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (Mida) is intensifying its efforts to attract investments in Bangladesh’s fisheries and marine sector. They have identified four key areas and are planning to engage with investors and relevant government bodies.
A seminar titled “Investment Potential in Fisheries and Marine Economy in Bangladesh” was recently held in Dhaka, jointly organized by Mida, under the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) Bangladesh. The seminar identified deep-sea fishing, mariculture, aquaculture and shrimp, and seafood processing as sectors with high potential but limited commercial operations in Bangladesh.
Discussions at the seminar highlighted investment opportunities in various areas such as industrial fishing fleets, offshore operations, mariculture, shrimp value chains, cold-chain infrastructure, and seafood processing facilities. Mida’s Executive Chairman, Ashik Chowdhury, emphasized the need for a clear pathway for investors from opportunity to implementation.
Chowdhury mentioned that there are regulatory, infrastructural, and institutional constraints that need to be addressed to unlock investment opportunities in the marine economy. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to support the sector’s growth and mentioned Mida’s role in working with relevant agencies to translate the sector’s potential into viable projects.
Mida has been actively engaging with stakeholders to help Bangladesh become a significant fishing exporting nation. Chowdhury expressed confidence in the new leadership’s coordinated efforts to address investors’ challenges and emphasized the strategic importance of Matarbari and Maheshkhali for future marine industrial development.
Following the seminar, Mida will identify investors interested in specific investment concepts and address policy and regulatory bottlenecks through engagement with relevant ministries. The collaboration between Mida and Jica will continue to provide technical assistance and investment facilitation in the fisheries sector.
Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam, a maritime expert, highlighted the potential for Bangladesh to double or triple its earnings from marine resources through sustainable ocean resource exploitation. Takahashi Naoki, from the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, emphasized the significance of the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement in expanding trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
The seminar aimed to bring together policymakers, government officials, development partners, industry leaders, and investors to explore ways to attract higher-value investments in Bangladesh’s fisheries and marine economy.