Tk 60,000 crore stimulus package to boost investment and employment: Khosru

The Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the government has undertaken a series of new initiatives aimed at creating a more investment-friendly environment, accelerating industrialization, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and expanding of employment opportunities across the country.

Presenting the proposed budget for the fiscal year of 2026-27 in the Jatiya Sangsad today (11 June), he outlined that the government is establishing new industrial sites in Patuakhali and Jashore, which are expected to create employment opportunities for approximately 250,000 people. 

In addition, work has begun on setting up of new economic zones in Kurigram, Nilphamari, Chandpur and Kushtia.

The minister also revealed that Bangladesh Bank has announced a Tk60,000 crore "Stimulus Package-2026" to facilitate credit flow to the private sector and support economic expansion.

In his budget speech, he said that a unified digital platform named "BanglaBiz" has been launched to simplify the business operations and regulatory processes. A comprehensive investment roadmap has also been published to attract the FDI in 19 high-potential sectors.

He noted that initiatives have been taken to conclude Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with promising partner countries to further strengthen export growth and investment cooperation.

To diversify exports, the government has granted eight sectors to facilitate in clearing duty-free goods against bank guarantees. Furthermore, export-oriented industries including agro-products, light engineering, pharmaceuticals, electronics, gold and import raw materials of diamonds will be allowed either under bonded warehouse facilities or duty-free against the bank guarantees.

The finance minister also announced policy support measures for the production of energy-efficient electric buses, trucks, motorcycles and scooters as part of the country's green industrialization efforts.

Referring to the Tk60,000 crore stimulus package, he said that Tk41,000 crore will come from refinancing funds, while Tk19,000 crore will be provided directly from Bangladesh Bank's own resources.

Under the package Tk20,000 crore has been allocated for large industries and the service sector, Tk10,000 crore for the agriculture and rural economic activities, Tk5,000 crore for the CMSME sector; Tk3,000 crore for export diversification, and Tk3,000 crore to develop northern Bangladesh as an agricultural hub.

To keep borrowing costs affordable, the government will provide a 6 percent interest subsidy on these loans. The programme is expected to generate more than 2.5 million new jobs, he said.

The minister further announced a proposed allocation of Tk2,000 crore in FY2026–27 under a refinancing scheme to provide easy-term loans for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

He said entrepreneurs will receive accessible financing through government-supported institutions including Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BIFFL) and the SME Foundation.

Expressing optimism, the finance minister said the measures adopted to promote investment, industrialization and export expansion would inject new momentum into the economy and play a significant role in generating sustainable employment across the country.