Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked Commonwealth investors to invest more heavily in Bangladesh.
"Geographically, Bangladesh is at the centre of a market of three billion people. We have 170 million people of our own. By 2030, the affluent population of Bangladesh will stand at 35 million. Therefore, Bangladesh will become the third largest market globally, leaving behind Germany and the United Kingdom," she said.
Hasina delivered the keynote presentation at the two-day "Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum Bangladesh-2023" at the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The event was co-organized by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, the Commonwealth's authorized business network, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Zi organization, a family-run organization that assists underprivileged individuals.
The initiative aims to promote innovation, trade, investment, and economic growth, as well as strengthen collaborations and explore avenues for Bangladesh's sustainable and inclusive economic development. Bangladesh, according to Hasina, requires development partners to achieve its goals.
"We need more high-quality and sustainable investment to accelerate the economic progress of Bangladesh."
She stated that as a prerequisite for Biniyog Bikash (investment promotion), her government prioritized organizational reforms, the formation of Bida, and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), which provide appealing facilities to investors while also ensuring post-investment services. According to the premier, practically all sectors in Bangladesh are available for investment. However, she stated that investment is mostly encouraged in agricultural goods and food processing, leather and leather goods processing, medical equipment, vehicles and shipbuilding, and ICT.
"There are promising investment facilities in these sectors, including the easy process of taking back dividends or benefits to your home country," she said.