'Investors need predictable policies': Experts call for regulatory, infrastructure reforms

Business leaders and policymakers have emphasised that Bangladesh's economic recovery hinges on regulatory reforms, boosting investor confidence, and forging stronger global partnerships. 

While reforms since 2024 have sparked optimism, limited investment, fragile logistics, weak FDI inflows, and narrow export diversification remain major hurdles, weighing on overall economic growth, they noted at a roundtable in Dhaka today.

The roundtable, titled "Path to Economic Turnaround: How Business Environment Fares and Priorities," organised by MCCI and Policy Exchange Bangladesh with support from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, examined how structural weaknesses affect the investment climate.

Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce, chaired the session as chief guest, joined by Bida Executive Member Shah Mohammad Mahboob and Austrade Trade & Investment Commissioner Ben Carson as special guests.

In his keynote, Masrur Reaz, chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, highlighted mounting macroeconomic pressures since 2022 and called for unlocking the potential of the private sector.

Industry leaders echoed these concerns, citing high borrowing costs, complex regulations, and infrastructure gaps. Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury, CEO of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, warned, "Without efficient logistics and predictable policies, we will continue to lose competitiveness in the global market."

Asif Ibrahim, vice chairman of Newage Group, stressed the urgency of diversifying beyond the RMG sector, saying, "Innovation and supportive policies are essential to develop emerging industries such as IT, agro-processing, and light engineering."

Doulot Akter Mala, president of the Economic Reporters Forum, added that reforms will succeed only with transparency and accountability. "Ensuring investor confidence means ensuring predictability in governance," she noted.

The event brought together a wide range of participants, including Canadian Senior Trade Commissioner Debra Boyce, JETRO Country Representative Kazuiki Kataoka, Eastern Bank Additional MD Ahmed Shaheen, Shasha Denims MD Shams Mahmud, UNDP's Mehruna Chowdhury, Grameenphone Senior Director Hossain Sadat, and SMAC Managing Partner Snehashish Barua.

Speakers underscored that realising the full potential of both domestic and foreign private sectors is pivotal for economic revitalisation, emphasising that substantive and sustainable progress hinges on steadfast political commitment, rigorous implementation, and enhanced international cooperation.