NDB to Invest $1B in Bangladesh Over the Next Year: BIDA Chief

“NDB has already invested approximately $300 million, and it will continue supporting both public and private sector projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation, and other financial instruments,” Chowdhury Ashik stated on the second day of the Investment Summit held at a city hotel.

He emphasized that the NDB aims to provide funding not only to government initiatives but also to private sector ventures. “We’ve encouraged them to invest in social infrastructure projects, including hospitals and housing,” he added.

Foreign investors visiting Bangladesh's Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and Economic Zones (EZs) have expressed interest in understanding how the government plans to tackle bureaucratic hurdles that might impact business operations. According to Chowdhury Ashik, international delegates are eager to learn about the specific support and incentives the government can offer to facilitate investment and business activity in Bangladesh.

“There are inquiries about what facilities or advantages the government can provide to businesses,” he said.

He also pointed out that the Ease of Doing Business Index is now outdated and should no longer be the primary benchmark. “No market in the world is without challenges. Every country faces its own set of problems. We are aware of these issues and are actively working to resolve them. Our aim is to address them within the next one to two years,” he noted.

In response to concerns about US tariffs, Chowdhury Ashik explained that it’s a global issue, not exclusive to Bangladesh. “Tariffs are a global challenge that every country is currently facing,” he concluded.