Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday invited investors from the Commonwealth countries to come to Bangladesh in a bigger way.
“Geographically, Bangladesh is at the center of a market of 3 billion people. We have 170 million people of our own. By 2030, the affluent population of Bangladesh will stand at 35 million. Therefore, Bangladesh will become the third largest market globally, leaving behind Germany and the United Kingdom,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing the two-day “Commonwealth trade and investment forum Bangladesh-2023” at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).
The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, which is the Commonwealth’s accredited business network, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Zi Foundation, a family-run foundation that offers support to vulnerable people, jointly organised the event.
The aim is to promote innovation, trade, investment and economic growth, enhance partnerships and explore ways towards sustainable and inclusive economic development for Bangladesh.
The PM said that Bangladesh needs development partners for reaching its goal.
“We need more high-quality and sustainable investment to accelerate the economic progress of Bangladesh,” she said.
She mentioned that as a prerequisite for Biniyog Bikash, or investment promotion, her government has prioritised organisational reforms, the formation of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), which offering attractive facilities for investors, and ensuring post-investment services.
Hasina said that almost all sectors are open for investment in Bangladesh.
But among those, she said, more investment is encouraged in agricultural goods and food processing, leather and leather goods processing, medical equipment, automobiles and shipbuilding, and ICT.
“There are promising investment facilities in these sectors, including the easy process of taking back dividends or benefits to your home country,” she said.
The premier said that some 70 percent of Bangladesh’s foreign direct investment comes from reinvestment, which is a proof of the excellent investment environment that Bangladesh offers to investors.
She mentioned that BIDA has started a one-stop fast-track delivery service to facilitate investors with the services of various departments of the government and through this one-stop service, 78 services from 26 departments can be received through one platform.
Mentioning that the pre-requisite for investment is the development of infrastructure, she said that the government has established 100 economic zones, 109 hi-tech and software technology parks, and IT training and incubation centres across the country with attractive incentive packages to promote foreign investors.
