Investors’ confidence in interim government has increased: UK trade envoy

The measures that the interim government is taking with regard to law and order are very encouraging to investors, said the UK trade envoy for Bangladesh, Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, DBE.

In a recent interview with The Business Standard during her visit to Dhaka for the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, she shared her experience, saying that as the trade envoy, she would convey the message to make UK investors aware of the changes that are taking place in Bangladesh. 

Baroness Winterton delivered a speech at the formal inauguration of the summit held on 9 April when Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus attended the event as the chief guest.

During the interview, she appreciated the initiative of the investment summit, hoping that it will bring a lot more investment into Bangladesh.

When asked about what changes she had observed in the investment climate, Winterton said, "I think investors, first of all, are obviously interested in stability. And the measures that the interim government is taking with regard to law and order are very encouraging.

"They also want to be aware of the opportunities that, for example, the UK government is offering to assist investors," she added.

"We are aware that there have been some things that businesses have found a bit difficult, bit too much red tape in certain areas, perhaps some regulations getting in the way. We've been trying to talk those through and are very encouraged by the action that is being taken to reduce that bureaucracy, reduce that red tape and make it easier for companies to come here to invest..."

Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, DBE, UK trade envoy to Bangladesh

Mentioning the British International Investment Fund and the UK Export Finance, she said, "These are all things that give people confidence and reduce bureaucracy. So those are the key areas that investors are interested in, and I'm seeing increased confidence from them."

Baroness Winterton further said, "And one of my jobs as trade envoy is to make sure that potential investors are aware of all the changes that are taking place and the offer that the UK government is making to assist investors.

"So I think we're seeing an increase in confidence, and I very much welcome that and will continue to work as the trade envoy to get those messages over."

Explaining opportunities for UK investors, she said, "Our British International Investment Fund for example, can assist companies that want to open up in or expand in Bangladesh. The UK Export Finance fund of £2 billion is there, and we want to work with companies to ensure that they are aware of the opportunities that that presents for investment."

She added, "It is a real effort on our part to show that we want to see investment in Bangladesh and the opportunities present back in the UK as well."

When asked about what her evaluation is of how the interim government is doing right now to improve investor confidence, she said there is a big diaspora in the UK who are anxious for them to be able to work together even more closely than the UK has in the past.

"And I feel that from a trade envoy's point of view, the action we can take and that we've plotted out from this visit, from being at the investment summit — you could see how successful it was, so many people in attendance and such a bright vision painted of Bangladesh 2035 — all that sends very positive signals about how businesses can come and invest, how we can work in all the sectors that I've outlined to increase the trading relationship between our two countries," Winterton said.

"And also, I think the other crucial point is that, you know, we are aware that there have been some things that businesses have found a bit difficult, bit too much red tape in certain areas, perhaps some regulations getting in the way. We've been trying to talk those through and are very encouraged by the action that is being taken to reduce that bureaucracy, reduce that red tape and make it easier for companies to come here to invest, to open up, to create jobs, to look at the green agenda, to look at the aviation sector, and to look at the ready-made garment sector," she added.

"All these are areas that we feel there is progress in, and that's what's been important about the visit. Because what we can then do is say to companies who might have been, who might have felt there were barriers in the way, that that is being tackled. And that's a very, very important message going forward," she further said. 

Addressing the investment opportunities for UK investors in Bangladesh, she said, "The ready-made garment sector is something that's been established for a long time, but I think there are opportunities for expansion there from British companies."

Winterton also said that the environmental industry is somewhere where she thinks there would be some big investment opportunities. "The aviation industry is another area that I think we can work together in."

Mentioning opportunities in the education sector, she said, "I know that there are many universities, for example, British universities, who'd like to have partnerships with Bangladesh."

Sharing how the UK can help Bangladesh in congestion management on the road, she said, "London used to be very congested and we put a number of policies in place looking at how to integrate different forms of transport. So we're talking with the Dhaka authorities about some lessons that have been learnt from the London experience and how we can help."

She said, "So we're just trying to say, what can we do to assist with best practice and using the information we've built up over many years through the London Transport Authority to say what might work here?"

Sharing the changes since her last visit in 2017, Baroness Winterton said, "I was last here in 2017, and had a very, very interesting visit at that point and visited different parts of the country. 

"This time, I've been here in Dhaka all the time and two of the big changes that big events have brought are one, the huge generosity of the Bangladeshi people in their care for the Rohingya refugees; and second is the events of last year and the bravery of the students and the tragic loss of life that there had been and now we have a different situation, but those are two key changes obviously that took place since I was last here."

The measures that the interim government is taking with regard to law and order are very encouraging to investors, said the UK trade envoy for Bangladesh, Baroness Winterton of Doncaster, DBE.

In a recent interview with The Business Standard during her visit to Dhaka for the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, she shared her experience, saying that as the trade envoy, she would convey the message to make UK investors aware of the changes that are taking place in Bangladesh. 

Baroness Winterton delivered a speech at the formal inauguration of the summit held on 9 April when Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus attended the event as the chief guest.

During the interview, she appreciated the initiative of the investment summit, hoping that it will bring a lot more investment into Bangladesh.

When asked about what changes she had observed in the investment climate, Winterton said, "I think investors, first of all, are obviously interested in stability. And the measures that the interim government is taking with regard to law and order are very encouraging.

"They also want to be aware of the opportunities that, for example, the UK government is offering to assist investors," she added.

Mentioning the British International Investment Fund and the UK Export Finance, she said, "These are all things that give people confidence and reduce bureaucracy. So those are the key areas that investors are interested in, and I'm seeing increased confidence from them."

Baroness Winterton further said, "And one of my jobs as trade envoy is to make sure that potential investors are aware of all the changes that are taking place and the offer that the UK government is making to assist investors.

"So I think we're seeing an increase in confidence, and I very much welcome that and will continue to work as the trade envoy to get those messages over."

Explaining opportunities for UK investors, she said, "Our British International Investment Fund for example, can assist companies that want to open up in or expand in Bangladesh. The UK Export Finance fund of £2 billion is there, and we want to work with companies to ensure that they are aware of the opportunities that that presents for investment."

She added, "It is a real effort on our part to show that we want to see investment in Bangladesh and the opportunities present back in the UK as well."

When asked about what her evaluation is of how the interim government is doing right now to improve investor confidence, she said there is a big diaspora in the UK who are anxious for them to be able to work together even more closely than the UK has in the past.

"And I feel that from a trade envoy's point of view, the action we can take and that we've plotted out from this visit, from being at the investment summit — you could see how successful it was, so many people in attendance and such a bright vision painted of Bangladesh 2035 — all that sends very positive signals about how businesses can come and invest, how we can work in all the sectors that I've outlined to increase the trading relationship between our two countries," Winterton said.

"And also, I think the other crucial point is that, you know, we are aware that there have been some things that businesses have found a bit difficult, bit too much red tape in certain areas, perhaps some regulations getting in the way. We've been trying to talk those through and are very encouraged by the action that is being taken to reduce that bureaucracy, reduce that red tape and make it easier for companies to come here to invest, to open up, to create jobs, to look at the green agenda, to look at the aviation sector, and to look at the ready-made garment sector," she added.

"All these are areas that we feel there is progress in, and that's what's been important about the visit. Because what we can then do is say to companies who might have been, who might have felt there were barriers in the way, that that is being tackled. And that's a very, very important message going forward," she further said. 

Addressing the investment opportunities for UK investors in Bangladesh, she said, "The ready-made garment sector is something that's been established for a long time, but I think there are opportunities for expansion there from British companies."

Winterton also said that the environmental industry is somewhere where she thinks there would be some big investment opportunities. "The aviation industry is another area that I think we can work together in."

Mentioning opportunities in the education sector, she said, "I know that there are many universities, for example, British universities, who'd like to have partnerships with Bangladesh."

Sharing how the UK can help Bangladesh in congestion management on the road, she said, "London used to be very congested and we put a number of policies in place looking at how to integrate different forms of transport. So we're talking with the Dhaka authorities about some lessons that have been learnt from the London experience and how we can help."

She said, "So we're just trying to say, what can we do to assist with best practice and using the information we've built up over many years through the London Transport Authority to say what might work here?"

Sharing the changes since her last visit in 2017, Baroness Winterton said, "I was last here in 2017, and had a very, very interesting visit at that point and visited different parts of the country. 

"This time, I've been here in Dhaka all the time and two of the big changes that big events have brought are one, the huge generosity of the Bangladeshi people in their care for the Rohingya refugees; and second is the events of last year and the bravery of the students and the tragic loss of life that there had been and now we have a different situation, but those are two key changes obviously that took place since I was last here."