Indonesian retailer to enter Bangladesh through Kazi Farms, Mitsubishi

Indonesian retail giant Alfamart is set to enter Bangladesh, launching a chain of compact supershops to cater to urban and semi-urban consumers.

Kazi Farms Group, a local conglomerate with interests in poultry, satellite TV, and frozen foods, has partnered with Alfamart in the venture alongside Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation, one of Alfamart's existing shareholders.

The official launch of Alfamart Trading Bangladesh Limited was announced yesterday at a ceremony held at a hotel in Dhaka.

According to the organisers, the project's first phase will involve a foreign investment of $50 million, followed by an additional $70 million in the second phase.

"With Alfamart, we aim to meet consumer demands by providing a wide range of products tailored to their needs," said Zahin Hasan, director of Kazi Farms Group.

He said the initiative will introduce international standards and modern retail technologies to the local market. "We hope Alfamart stores will also create jobs that are attractive for women in Bangladesh," he added.

Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and CEO of Pran-RFL Group, said: "I hope this new investment will create employment opportunities for many."

The investment is expected to introduce advanced retail technologies to Bangladesh and establish a new distribution channel for locally produced fast-moving consumer goods.

Alfa Group, the parent company of Alfamart, operates about 27,000 retail outlets across Indonesia and the Philippines.

The group is publicly listed in Indonesia and is recognised for its scale of operations and commitment to inclusive employment — around 40 percent of its workforce are women.

Mitsubishi Corporation, one of Japan's largest diversified conglomerates and a major stakeholder in the initiative, played a key role in bringing the partners together.