The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is organizing the “Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025” at the Intercontinental Dhaka Hotel in the capital from April 7-10. The main objective of the summit is to highlight Bangladesh’s investment potential, showcase post-July Revolution economic reforms and build long-term investment linkages.
At a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday (March 23, 2025), BIDA Executive Chairman Mr. Ashiq Chowdhury said that more than 2,300 investors from 50 countries have already registered, of which more than 550 are foreign investors. The top registered countries include China, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Singapore and Japan.
In a press briefing, the executive chairman of Bida said, “In terms of investment, our focus will be on job creation rather than dollar value. An investor will invest $10 million and create 1,000 jobs; another investor will invest $100 million but only 100 jobs. Of these two, we will give more priority to the first one. Because $100 million is not 100 jobs, our country needs 1,000 jobs for $10 million.”
The summit will be attended by the world’s leading corporate figures, including Zara Group CEO Oscar Garcia Meseiros, DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulaiman, British Baroness Rosie Winterton, Samsung C&T Vice President Kyungsoo Lee, Giordano CEO Junseok Han, Excelerate Energy President Steven Kobos, Uber’s Head of Public Policy for the Asia-Pacific region Mike Argyle, and Meta’s Public Policy Director Sarim Aziz.
In addition, venture capital firms such as B Capital, Gobi, Conjunction, Marubeni, and GFR will work to invest in startups and expand the digital economy.
BIDA Executive Chairman Mr. Ashiq Chowdhury said that as part of the summit, foreign investors, including a 26-member delegation from South Korea, will visit the Korean EPZ in Anwara, Chittagong, and the National Special Economic Zone in Mirsarai, Chittagong on April 7.
On the same day, a startup connection program will be held at Hotel Intercontinental.
On April 8, investors will visit the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj, and a special networking event will be held at the end of the day.
The main event of the summit will be held on April 9. The Starlink ‘test run’ will be conducted in Bangladesh on the same day.
Ambassadors, policymakers and top business figures will be present at the event. On this day, a Young Entrepreneur Expo and a breakout session on renewable energy organized by the European Union and UNDP will be held.
In addition, a special cultural evening will be organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture to highlight the heritage of Bangladesh.
Various breakout sessions will be held at the summit on April 10. Among them will be discussions on digital economy (CT NA and UNDP), textiles (HSBC and BGMEA), agriculture and agro-processing (Dutch Embassy and LCP) and healthcare (Inspira, EBL and Sajida Foundation).
In addition, matchmaking sessions for investors and round-table discussions on best investment practices will be held.
At the press conference, the BIDA Executive Chairman said, “Many foreign investors are still not aware of the real investment situation in Bangladesh. Through this summit, we want to inform them about Bangladesh’s potential, economic growth, investment-friendly policies and culture.”
The BIDA Chairman also said that the NBR, Bangladesh Bank and the Ministry of Commerce will have separate booths at the conference to present the real picture of the country to foreign investors.
In addition, three political parties, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), will have separate booths.
Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Alam, Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, and BIDA Business Development Department Head Nahian Rahman Rachi were present at the press conference.
