Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has called for accelerated infrastructure development in the Matarbari region to establish it as Bangladesh’s leading manufacturing and export-oriented free trade zone.

The directive came during a high-level meeting on Monday at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, focused on the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI), according to the CA Office.

Chairing the session, Principal Secretary Md Siraj Uddin Miah was joined by senior government officials, including SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and secretaries from key ministries. Sarwar Alam, Director General of the MIDI Cell, presented updates on ongoing projects.

“Matarbari can become the nation’s largest hub for ports, logistics, manufacturing, and energy,” said Prof Yunus. “To achieve this, we must draw significant foreign investment, backed by a comprehensive master plan.”

He instructed the Road Transport and Shipping ministries to speed up road construction and terminal development for large container vessels. Urban development, including a planned city for incoming workers, was also stressed.

Yunus announced that MIDI will be a central focus during his upcoming visit to Japan, where he is to attend the 30th Nikkei Future of Asia conference and meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on 30 May to seek project funding.

Japan is planning a second exclusive economic zone within the MIDI area, while global firms—including Aramco, JERA, Petronas, and Abu Dhabi Ports—have shown investment interest.

A deep-sea port at Matarbari, to be built by Japanese firms with JICA support, anchors the initiative.