Foreign investment pipeline created; roadmap planned to monitor progress: Bida

The four-day Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 concluded on Thursday (10 April), with foreign investors expressing strong interest in the country's economic prospects and committing to substantial investments.

In response, the government announced plans to chart a roadmap involving personalised communication with each investor and continuous monitoring to ensure these investment pledges come to fruition.

At the same time, the government will ensure adequate facilities, including logistics and utility services, and the establishment of a green port within a shorter timeframe. The government also urged increased investment in human capital development to support the industries of the future.

A structured foreign investment pipeline has emerged from this year's summit, according to  Nahian Rahman Rochi, head of Business Development at Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).

He said a clear roadmap will be formulated to guarantee the summit's long-term success. "We're not just focused on securing expressions of interest," he said during a press briefing at the InterContinental Dhaka.

He noted that foreign investors typically require 18 to 24 months to finalise their investments. "That's why a proactive follow-up mechanism is crucial. We will stay in regular touch with each investor to guide and support them through the process."

Held from 7–10 April at the Hotel InterContinental, Dhaka, the summit was jointly organised by the Bida and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza). 

On the final day of the summit, investment opportunities in the digital economy, textiles and apparel, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and agro-processing sectors were spotlighted.

A walk through the venue from early morning revealed packed sessions across the board. Further details on the investment commitments and the sectors attracting the most attention will be unveiled in Bida's forthcoming summary report.

Summit achieves 'moderate success'

Bida Executive Member Shah Mohammad Mahboob at the briefing said a robust investment pipeline is now in place. "Judging by the arrangements so far, we can say we've achieved moderate success," he noted. 

Alex Wang, secretary general of the China-Bangladesh Partnership Platform, told The Business Standard, "A high-level delegation has arrived from China. We've met with the chief adviser and learned about the business opportunities in Bangladesh. Another delegation will follow next month, as we are keen to expand investment, particularly in the renewable energy sector."

Participating in the textile and apparel session, Kihak Sung, founder of Korean EPZ, emphasised the need to build a skilled workforce and adopt new technologies. 

"Currently, 30% of our operations are automated. We aim to increase that by another 20% over the next two years," he said. 

To boost exports, Sung added, "Bangladesh must enhance its use of technology, improve workers' skills, and establish its own production facilities for man-made fibres."

Stanley Ng, global partnerships director at New Energy Nexus, remarked, "This event has introduced us to a new Bangladesh. Having all the investment facilitation agencies under one roof made access to information much easier."

400–450 foreign participants

Rochi said investors were briefed on the opportunities available across various sectors, while efforts were made to connect foreign delegates with local businesses. 

"Entrepreneurs have said that while there is potential, the overall business environment still needs improvement – particularly in cross-border trade, customs procedures, and port facilities. These areas must be strengthened to remove bottlenecks," he noted.

He acknowledged existing bureaucratic challenges but pointed out that visiting investors have recognised significant progress. "In many meetings, they said the commitments we made earlier are now being implemented. Yes, we still face issues, but we're actively working to resolve them."

Among the concerns raised by investors were access to resources, policy continuity, and corruption. "Businesses have also requested a government roadmap on tariffs," Rochi added.

"We had 550 registrations for the summit, including around 400–450 foreign participants — in some cases, organisations sent more than one delegate. We will share the complete data on investments and investor profiles soon."

Meanwhile, Bida Executive Member Shah Mohammad Mahboob noted growing foreign interest in API production, new vaccine manufacturing, and advanced medical technology. 

"There is a strong pipeline of investments," he said. "It is the responsibility of both Bida and Beza to facilitate these investments, and we believe that with the coordinated efforts of all ministries and agencies involved, we can make this initiative a success."

Key investment from summit

Several international companies have shown interest in expanding their businesses in Bangladesh at the summit. Spanish retailer Inditex, cement giant LafargeHolcim, and Chinese apparel company Handa Industries plan to invest in the country. The UK's Trade Ambassador Rosie Winterton expressed interest in long-term partnerships, especially in healthcare and education.

DP World's Chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, met with the chief adviser to discuss investment in the New Mooring Container Terminal in Chattogram. Chinese officials are exploring investments in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and Chinese Economic Zones in Chattogram and Mongla.

A South Korean delegation has committed to substantial investments, and discussions on Bangladesh's cooperation with NASA in space exploration are ongoing. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between H&M, Pran-RFL, and IFC to produce 100 megawatts of electricity. 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's central bank is launching a fund of Tk800-900 crore to support new entrepreneurs.

Incentives for the startup sector include a $1 million investment from Incepta Group, while Sweden's Nilorn will invest $13 million. The New Development Bank has pledged to invest $1 billion this year, and Handa Industries confirmed a $150 million investment.

Next month, Bangladesh will host the Chinese trade minister and 200 investors to explore further opportunities.