The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) hosted a investment seminar in Istanbul titled ‘Gateway to Growth: Invest in Bangladesh’, bringing together Turkish businesses, industry leaders, and development partners to explore strategic investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
The high-profile event at Delta Hotels by Marriott, Istanbul Levent drew participation from over 30 Turkish companies actively investing or exploring market entry in Bangladesh.
The seminar has been organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Bangladesh in Türkiye and the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD), and supported through technical cooperation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group.
Nahian Rahman Rochi, Head of Business Development at BIDA, delivered the keynote presentation, spotlighting investment prospects in textiles, electronics, and renewable energy. He said: “There has never been a better time to enter Bangladesh,” he said. “Macroeconomic indicators—from exports and currency stability to inflation—are at their most favorable levels in recent years. The government has rolled out 32 targeted reform initiatives to facilitate business entry. And for those exploring Bangladesh for the first time, BIDA provides full-spectrum support—from investment advisory to factory setup—through our One Stop Service platform.”
Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BIDA, engaged directly with Turkish business leaders through an address and responded to questions from Turkish companies.
Executives from Turkish companies already operating in Bangladesh shared their on-the-ground experiences. Barış Alparslan, CFO of Arçelik (owner of Singer Bangladesh), highlighted the company’s commitment to building a resilient local supply chain and investing in people, skills, and long-term growth. Ercüment Polat, Assistant General Manager (Sales) at Aygaz, spoke about the company’s expansion journey in Bangladesh, citing BIDA’s One Stop Service support, a growing local workforce of over 200 employees, and a nationwide distribution network that now reaches nearly three million people.
The seminar also featured remarks from Muhammet Huzeyfe Güllüoğlu, Board Member of MÜSİAD, and Mr. Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, Consul General of Bangladesh in Istanbul, both of whom emphasized the growing alignment between the two economies. The seminar is part of a broader strategic mission led by Ashik Chowdhury, comprising senior officials from BIDA, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and representatives from the banking sector.
On 7–8 October, Government-to-Business (G2B) meetings were held with Turkish conglomerates across priority sectors. BIDA is also building long-term partnerships with major Turkish industry bodies, including TÜRKONFED, to institutionalize private-sector cooperation between Bangladesh and Türkiye.
