Japan is planning to develop an “industrial value chain” through the Matarbari deep-sea port in Bangladesh to connect India’s seven northeastern states with the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia, The Hindu reported, citing diplomatic sources in Tokyo. The proposal could redraw the economic geography of the Northeast, giving the landlocked region direct access to global shipping routes.
The industrial value chain plan
A senior diplomatic source at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Hindu that Matarbari port could transform Bangladesh into a regional industrial hub while strengthening regional connectivity. “Matarbari port holds the potential to transform Bangladesh into a regional industrial hub,” the source said in a written response.
The plan has surfaced ahead of an expected visit to Japan by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, during which the port is expected to feature prominently. He is expected to seek Japanese financial assistance for projects planned for the 2026–31 period, including the Matarbari industrial, port and commercial hub. As part of preparations for the visit, the Bangladeshi prime minister toured Matarbari and was briefed on the project’s next phases. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has invited him for a four-day visit, and Bangladesh is expected to propose a strategic investment and cooperation package worth around $14 billion, with roughly $3.14 billion sought for the Maheshkhali-Matarbari integrated infrastructure initiative.
A Bangladesh hub with regional reach
Once completed, the Japan-backed facility will be Bangladesh’s only deep-sea port. The country currently relies on Singapore, Colombo and ports in Malaysia to handle large vessels. The deep-sea port is being developed with financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Japan has previously supported a similar industrial value chain linking Bangkok with Cambodia and Vietnam. “A model to emulate is Bangkok, which led regional economic growth through its ports and the Southern Economic Corridor,” the Japanese official told The Hindu, referring to the Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam development corridor supported by Japan through financing and infrastructure planning. Japanese diplomats see the model as adaptable around Matarbari to strengthen connectivity among Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar.
Stalled links and cautious optimism
Much of the port project’s work was carried out under the Awami League regime, when Bangladesh-India relations were comparatively smooth and cross-border connectivity projects progressed. During that period, the Maitri Bridge over the Feni River was built to connect Tripura with Bangladesh, opening the possibility of links between northeast India and the Chattogram and Matarbari ports. The bridge, however, remains non-operational amid political uncertainty and strains in Bangladesh-India relations.
Despite the headwinds, Japanese officials remain optimistic about the longer-term prospects. Enhancing connectivity from Bangladesh to northeast India and neighbouring countries would further reinforce the utility of the port, they said — a prospect that complements the region’s growing outward links, from the new Guwahati visa centre easing the Northeast’s access to the world to the finalised airfare rules aimed at fairer domestic travel.
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