Bangladesh pushes coordination reforms to boost investment, trade efficiency: Govt
The meeting was attended by Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority
The interim government of Bangladesh this week noted tangible progress in streamlining investment and trade processes, citing improved inter-agency coordination and faster decision-making as key drivers of economic competitiveness.
The updates were presented at the seventh meeting of the Investment Coordination Committee, where senior policymakers and regulators reviewed reforms aimed at reducing bottlenecks, digitising services and accelerating investment execution. The meeting was held at the Chief Adviser's Office in Tejgaon on Thursday (29 January).
"Process improvements can significantly strengthen our competitiveness and directly impact livelihoods," said Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy of the chief adviser and chair of the committee.
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"While we have limited control over external factors such as tariffs and market access, we have full control over our own policies and procedures. Efficiency gains here are immediate, tangible and substantial," he added.
The meeting was attended by Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) and the Public-Private Partnership Authority; Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan Mansur; and Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman; along with secretaries and heads of key ministries and agencies.
Among the major proposals discussed were a tenfold increase in pre-arrival customs clearance, a unified online business start-up package, 24-hour digital payment services at Chattogram port, and a fully automated bond management system.
Officials also agreed on a multi-agency mechanism to ensure that approved investment proposals are translated into actual investments.
The committee reviewed several recent coordination successes. The National Single Window (NSW), launched by the National Board of Revenue after years of inter-ministerial delays, has eliminated an estimated 1.2 million physical visits to government offices within just a few months.
Automated truck entry systems at Chattogram port have reduced entry times by at least 90%, while digital tracking and cashless payments have enhanced transparency and efficiency.
Investment promotion agencies — Bida, Beza, Bepza and the Hi-Tech Park Authority — are now jointly monitoring investment pipelines.
Officials also reported a record number of land lease agreements, with recent outreach missions to China, Turkey and South Korea resulting in confirmed investment activations.
The committee flagged persistent challenges, noting that some offices continue to run parallel offline processes despite having digital systems in place, mainly due to weak monitoring of user experience and system usage.
Siddiqi cited the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) as a best-practice example, highlighting its digital-only application and payment system supported by on-site help desks.
Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Moniruzzaman said a similar "agent desk" has been introduced at the port to assist users transitioning to online platforms.
Immediate priorities include the launch of the first version of the Bangladesh Business Portal by Bida, developed through collaboration among ministries and city corporations, and a pilot of the Automated Risk Management System (ARMS) at Chattogram Customs House to reduce physical cargo inspections.
Referring to recent stakeholder meetings at Chattogram Customs House, Siddiqi stressed the urgency of expanding pre-arrival clearance.
"The rules are already in place," he said. "What is missing is disciplined implementation. It is unacceptable that less than 5% of cargo is pre-cleared when the figure should exceed 50%."
Participants praised the Investment Coordination Committee's data-driven, action-oriented format, describing it as a "stylistic reform" in government operations that prioritises execution and measurable outcomes.
The meeting concluded with appreciation for the collaborative approach and the concrete results delivered so far.
