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Business Desk

The Daily Star

Publication Date : 23-01-2013

A Japanese food giant on Monday launched a new company, Ajinomoto Bangladesh Ltd, to sell seasonings and processed foods to Bangladeshi consumers and set up a factory at Tongi in Gazipur district near the Bangladesh capital.

Ajinomoto Co Inc and its affiliated company Ajinomoto Thailand invested Tk 41 crore to establish the new venture.

The new company will further promote market development in South Asia, said Masatoshi Ito, president and chief executive officer of Ajinomoto Co.

Ajinomoto plans to sell products worth 2.68 billion taka (US$33.75 million) in Bangladesh by 2016, as it plans to expand into new regions and business areas to strengthen its existing businesses, the company said.

“In Bangladesh, bean soup and vegetable curry are popular with rice as the staple food. The seasoning Aji-No-Moto goes well with these foods,” Ito said.

Aji-No-Moto is an umami seasoning that is also known as monosodium glutamate, the company said in a statement.

“We will help Ajinomoto to expand its business in Bangladesh,” said Shiro Sadoshima, Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh.

The nation has good food culture which will help Ajinomoto's business in the country, Sadoshima said.

Starting with Aji-No-Moto, the company plans to extend its product line-up with flavoured seasonings and processed foods such as instant noodles, according to the statement.

Ajinomoto is a global manufacturer of seasonings, processed foods, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals, according to its website.

Founded in 1909 and now operating in 26 countries, Ajinomoto Co had net sales of $15.1 billion in 2011.