Bangladesh to showcase real stories to global investors at Investment Summit: Bida chief

Bangladesh wants to present a "genuine view" of the country's investment landscape to global investors, offering firsthand insights into its economic opportunities, said Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun today (23 March).

"It's very difficult to give investors a genuine view and tell the true stories until we bring them physically. We want to give the investors a real picture through the Bangladesh Investment Summit," he said while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy.

He also emphasised the importance of bringing investors physically to Bangladesh to counter misperceptions and provide an accurate representation of the business climate.

The media briefing was arranged ahead of the "Bangladesh Investment Summit" scheduled to be held from 7-10 April at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, among others, were present at the briefing.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will formally inaugurate the summit in the presence of ambassadors, top business executives, and policymakers on 9 April.

The top participating countries include China, the US, the UK, India, Singapore, and Japan.

Speaking at the briefing, Bida chief Ashik Mahmud emphasised the importance of positioning Bangladesh as a global investment hub. 

"Foreign investors often lack sufficient knowledge about Bangladesh's economic landscape. Through this summit, we aim to introduce them to the vast opportunities available in our country, along with our strong economic growth, investor-friendly policies, and vibrant culture," he said.

The summit aims to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in key sectors of the economy and provide a platform for global investors to explore opportunities in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, US telecom giant Starlink will provide live internet connectivity for demonstration on 9 April.

Ashik Mahmud said, "The summit's inaugural event will be broadcast via Starlink." However, it will be launched on a trial basis that day. The commercial operation of Starlink will take some more time to commence.

The event has already garnered significant interest, with over 550 investors from 50 countries registering for participation alongside more than 2,500 Bangladeshi investors. 

Several high-profile global business leaders will be attending, including Óscar García Maceiras, CEO of Zara Group; the CEO of Sultan Port; the chairman of Dubai Economic Department; the vice president of Samsung; the CEO of GO Brand; representatives from Meta and Uber; executives from Dawood Group (Pakistan); and venture capital firms like B Capital and Marubeni. 

Their presence highlights the increasing global interest in Bangladesh as a lucrative investment destination.