Govt prioritises 4 areas to boost investor confidence: BIDA

Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun- File Photo

The Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, has said the government is focusing on four key priorities to create a more business-friendly environment.

“BIDA and BEZA are concentrating on four main priorities: fast-tracking high-impact investment projects, expanding and improving One-Stop Services, resolving investor challenges, and building a strong pipeline of major investments,” he said during an interview at the Investment Building in Dhaka.

He noted that although the current administration is interim, the government remains committed to sustaining investment momentum.

“We are working hard to ensure investors receive comprehensive support and the confidence that their investments in Bangladesh will be secure and profitable,” he added.

Regarding the recently held Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, the BIDA chief described it as a success in meeting its planned objectives.

“We received very positive responses from international and local investors, development partners, and stakeholders. Many expressed keen interest in exploring opportunities across sectors such as renewable energy, information technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, and healthcare,” he said.

He added that the summit demonstrated Bangladesh’s appeal as a reliable and promising investment destination.

“It also allowed us to showcase the government’s efforts in building an investor-friendly environment and world-class infrastructure. As a result, we now have a strong pipeline of potential investors. We're encouraged by the outcomes and committed to turning this interest into real, on-the-ground investments.”

Following the summit, Ashik Chowdhury said the government’s top priority is to maintain close engagement with prospective investors.

“We’ve built a comprehensive database of participants and are now offering tailored support based on where they are in their investment journey. Our goal is to build long-term relationships and convert their interest into active investments,” he stated.

When asked whether the government would act on policy recommendations made during the summit, he replied, “Of course. Investors are our partners, and we value their insights highly.”

He noted that all recommendations made during the sessions were carefully documented.

“The key areas they focused on align with our existing priorities: renewable energy and green growth, digital economy and tech transformation, advanced and sustainable textile and apparel, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and agro-processing and the food value chain. We aim to fast-track initiatives in these sectors,” he said.

The four-day Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, held from 7 to 10 April, showcased the country's growing investment opportunities and recent economic reforms.

Initial investment proposals worth Tk 3,100 crore were generated during the summit, with several additional proposals currently in the pipeline. The event attracted 415 foreign delegates from 50 countries.