Shift towards renewable energy both urgent necessity and strategic investment opportunity: BIDA

The Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, set to begin today (7 April), will feature a dedicated session on renewable energy on 9 April, focusing on scaling up renewable energy adoption and securing affordable, sustainable energy sources for long-term economic growth.

The four-day summit brings together global investors, business leaders, policymakers, and visionaries for dialogue, discovery and direction.

Bangladesh stands at a "critical juncture" in its energy transition, with a growing emphasis on renewable energy to enhance energy security, economic resilience and environmental sustainability.

With electricity demand continuing to rise, the transition towards solar, wind, hydropower and waste-to-energy solutions has become both an urgent necessity and a strategic investment opportunity, according to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

The session, titled "Renewable Energy: Unlocking Bangladesh's Potential for a Green Energy Transition", will be jointly organised by the European Union (EU), BIDA, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

According to the organisers, the session will serve as a premier platform for global investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore investment opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and green financing mechanisms aimed at accelerating Bangladesh's clean energy transformation.

The programme will begin with a high-level panel discussion, followed by B2B matchmaking sessions designed to connect local and international investors with government authorities and financial institutions, fostering strategic partnerships and new investment opportunities.

Discussions will address policy and investment climate reforms, strengthening Bangladesh's business environment, and creating an enabling framework to attract international capital for renewable energy projects. Other key issues include land availability, climate resilience, and infrastructure bottlenecks in scaling up green energy initiatives and financing.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan will deliver the keynote address, while Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, will provide opening remarks. Jarno Syrjälä, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; Máté Heisz, Chief Operating Officer, SolarPower Europe; Michael Steidl, Head of the EIB Regional Representation to South Asia; Sarah Negro, Global Public Affairs Manager, H&M Group; Tanveer Mohammad, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Grameenphone and Telenor Group; Jalal Ahmed, Chairman, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC); and Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Chairman & CEO, PRAN-RFL Group, will also join as discussants at the session to be held at InterContinental Hotel.

The B2B segment will also include a speed networking session, where participants will rotate through thematic tables representing the European private sector/EuroCham, local private sector/associations, government regulatory bodies, and financial institutions/export credit agencies. 

This format is designed to facilitate introductions, collaboration, and investment dialogue.

Following the session, EuroCham Bangladesh will host a reception to encourage further informal networking and business connections.

BIDA noted that Bangladesh's renewable energy sector is gaining strong momentum. 

With the increasing demand and supportive government policies, the country is steadily advancing in clean energy investment.

With a sharp focus on networking and high-growth sectors – from renewable energy and the digital economy to agriculture, healthcare, and textiles – the summit marks the beginning of Bangladesh's next chapter, BIDA said.