Business Desk:
One of Bangladesh’s largest economic diplomacy conferences has been held in Dhaka to strengthen global trade, investment and economic partnerships. The conference, titled ‘Roadmap for Trade, Growth and Economic Diplomacy: Conference 2026’, was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
The day-long conference held in the capital on Saturday (June 13, 2026), was attended by high-level government policymakers, ambassadors and heads of mission from various countries, representatives of development cooperation agencies, international financing institutions, multinational companies and business leaders.
The main objective of the conference, organized under the theme ‘Navigating Risks: Leveraging Resilience’, was to formulate a comprehensive framework for policies, investments and international partnerships to enhance sustainable growth, competitiveness and economic resilience.
The conference was inaugurated by Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman. He outlined Bangladesh’s forward-looking economic diplomacy and said that Bangladesh is committed to creating new opportunities for investment, trade and international cooperation despite global uncertainties.
BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun highlighted Bangladesh’s investment potential, ongoing reform programs and existing opportunities for international partners. The inaugural session was moderated by Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir and Advisor on Education, Expatriates’ Welfare, Labor and Employment Dr. Mahdi Amin participated in the first plenary session, ‘The Policy Compass: Advancing Trade and Investment’. The session discussed post-LDC transition preparations, expansion of new markets and strategies to strengthen the investment-friendly environment.
The second plenary session, ‘Capital for Growth: Finance, Commerce and Trade’, was chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. The discussion was attended by National Board of Revenue Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan and Barrister Zahrat Adib Chowdhury. A wide-ranging discussion was held on financing reforms, capital raising and digital financial infrastructure development.
The third plenary session, ‘The New Stage: AI, Creative Industries and Sport’, discussed the potential of artificial intelligence, creative industries and sports as new sectors of future growth. Rehan Asif Asad, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Information and Communication Technology, Science and Technology, delivered a special speech. In addition, State Minister for Culture Ali Newaz Mahmud Khayyam and State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque participated in the discussion.
Officials of various international organizations, including representatives of the World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank and International Monetary Fund, participated in the conference. As a result, it became one of the largest and most diverse economic gatherings organized by the Bangladesh government in recent times.
The conference invited participants to submit ‘Partner Engagement Notes’. Based on these recommendations, the International Trade, Investment and Technology (ITIT) Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BIDA will jointly organize a series of closed-door roundtable meetings in the coming months.
The Dhaka Forum Initiative served as the enterprise and outreach partner of the conference.
The organizers said that the conference sent a clear message to the international community that Bangladesh is reform-oriented, partnership-based and determined to build new growth engines. The outcomes of the conference discussions will play an important role in embassy-based economic engagement and strategic policymaking in the coming months.
