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Foreign investors have demonstrated a strong commitment to injecting significant investments across various sectors, with a particular focus on the consumer market, textiles, pharmaceuticals, light engineering, and renewable energy. The four-day-long investment summit in 7-10 April concluded on Thursday, marking a successful event that attracted considerable attention from global stakeholders.
In a closing press conference, the organizers expressed their satisfaction with the summit’s outcomes, highlighting the positive response from foreign investors eager to tap into the country’s growing potential. They noted that the event facilitated valuable partnerships, discussions, and collaborations that would drive long-term economic growth.
The summit provided a platform for investors to explore new opportunities, discuss sector-specific challenges, and align on strategies for sustainable development. Key industry leaders from around the world participated, emphasizing the importance of strategic investments in driving innovation and progress in sectors like renewable energy and pharmaceuticals.
With a clear focus on economic diversification, the summit has not only solidified existing partnerships but has also opened doors for new ventures, particularly in the rapidly expanding sectors of textiles, engineering, and clean energy. The organizers are optimistic that these discussions will lead to the creation of thousands of jobs and contribute significantly to the country’s GDP in the coming years.
During a press conference, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) Head of Business Development Nahian Rahman Rochi has said a foreign investment pipeline has been created through this year’s investment summit.
“The continuous communication will be made with institutions which have proposed or promised to invest,” he said at a press conference at the InterContinental hotel in the capital Thursday.
He also said continuous monitoring would also be done to ensure the investment comes through.
“Investors usually take 18 to 24 months to invest; we will communicate and negotiate with them on a per institution basis,” he added.
“We had 550 registrations here, out of which about 400-450 were foreign representatives. We will inform you about the complete investment and investor information later,” he added.
Replying to a query, he said, a $150 million agreement had been signed with Chinese RMG company Handa on the occasion of the summit ShopUp has received $110 million in investment.
“We will announce the total number of investment proposals received in the next press conference,” he said.
He said the investors had also raised the issue of several challenges such as policy continuity, access to resources and corruption.
“We have bureaucratic complications, and efforts are being made to remove them,” he added.
‘Bangladesh is ready to become the world’s top exporter of garments’
With the right strategies and reforms, Bangladesh is poised to become the number one garment exporter in the world, said Korean EPZ founder Kiak Sung.
He made this statement at a session on ‘Textiles and Apparel’ organized at a Hotel Intercontinental in the capital on Thursday, the last day of the investment conference.
Stating that Bangladesh currently holds the position of the world’s second largest garment exporter as a single country, Kiak Sung said that Bangladesh needs to increase the use of technology to achieve its goal of occupying the top position.
Besides, there is a need to increase the skills of workers and set up own production facilities for advanced and handmade yarn.
At the same time, he highlighted the importance of policy support and the need for a large number of bonded warehouses, saying that these will ensure quick availability of raw materials.
As a result, manufacturers will be able to produce and export products more efficiently.
Commenting on recent trade developments, Sung said the three-month moratorium on Trump-era tariff policies has brought some relief. The proactive steps taken by the Bangladesh government in this regard are highly commendable. Looking ahead, he stressed the need for value-added production.
“We need to focus on producing high-value garments. Otherwise, it will become increasingly difficult to survive in the competitive global market,” he said.
Germany expresses long term sustainable economic cooperation in Bangladesh
The business stakeholder delegation of Germany, which attended Bangladesh Investment Summit, expressed interest in long-term and sustainable economic cooperation.
The delegation held a series of high-level meetings with senior representatives of the government of Bangladesh, exchanged views on the current investment climate and ongoing reforms aimed at facilitating foreign direct investment, said a German Embassy’s press release on Thursday.
The German side invited Bangladeshi government officials and delegations to visit Germany at their earliest convenience to make the attractiveness of Bangladesh for business more visible in Germany.
These high-level meetings reflect Germany’s ongoing commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s development priorities, confidence in the country’s investment potential, and the enduring strength of German-Bangladeshi relations, said the German Embassy.
Germany remains one of Bangladesh’s most significant economic partners, with bilateral trade totalling USD 9.81 billion in 2024, according to the German Embassy in Dhaka.
NDB pledges $1b investment in Bangladesh in next one year
The BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB) is set to provide $1 billion in funding support to Bangladesh in the next one year.
Korean investors return with renewed confidence
In a significant boost, South Korean investors – led by Youngone Corporation Chairman Kihak Sung – met with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna. The delegation included officials from Korean giants like LG and companies in textiles, healthcare, energy, logistics, and fashion.
Chinese delegation eyes strategic sectors
A 30-member Chinese investor delegation, led by Pauline Ngan of Mainland Headgear Company Ltd, also met with Prof Yunus.
The group represented global players in infrastructure, telecom, waste management, energy, and transport.
Monthly breakfast meetings and investor support mechanisms
During the meeting with the Chinese investors, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus announced that he will host a breakfast meeting for Chinese and Korean investors, aimed at addressing investment concerns and fast-tracking their ventures in the country.
However, the date for the breakfast meeting has yet to be confirmed, Foyez Ahammad, senior assistant press secretary to the chief adviser, told the Daily Sun.
Prof Yunus emphasised the government’s commitment to creating a more attractive investment climate, citing recent reforms in trade and labour that he believes will drive foreign investment to Bangladesh and encourage the relocation of Chinese and South Korean manufacturing plants.
Bangladesh enters space exploration race with NASA partnership
Bangladesh has made a significant stride in space exploration as it has signed the Artemis Accords with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), becoming the 54th country to join the international initiative focused on peaceful, non-military space exploration.
Bangladesh startups flourish, raise $1b in funding
Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, boasting over 1,200 active startups and nearly US$1 billion in funding raised to date.
According to Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the ICT Division and Chairman of Startup Bangladesh Limited, approximately 76% of this funding has come from venture capital.
This milestone was celebrated at the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, which began on Monday with the inauguration of Bangladesh Startup Connect 2025 at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.
The summit has attracted global investors, visionary founders, and ecosystem builders, serving as a platform to explore opportunities in Bangladesh’s fast-growing digital economy.
