Desk Report:
‘Invest Bangladesh’ has received special recognition as an “Outstanding LDC Investment Promotion Agency” at the WAIPA Investment Excellence Awards, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
On Tuesday (November 10) at 6:00 PM local time in Geneva (11:00 PM Bangladesh time), the award was accepted on behalf of ‘Invest Bangladesh’ by Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations.
The 30th World Investment Conference, organized by the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)—a global body for investment promotion agencies—is taking place in Geneva from November 10 to 12. As part of this event, awards are presented to investment promotion agencies. An independent international jury selects agencies for special recognition based on whether their submitted initiatives meet high international standards.
This recognition highlights the significance of ongoing efforts to improve Bangladesh’s investment climate, strengthen investment support services, and establish a more accessible and effective institutional framework for investors. It reflects the reform initiatives being advanced by ‘Invest Bangladesh’ and its government partners, aimed at simplifying investment-related processes, enhancing coordination among government agencies, and transforming potential investments into concrete projects.
In preparation for the reforms aimed at improving Bangladesh’s investment climate by 2025, consultations were held with approximately 200 domestic and foreign investors. These reforms included expanding bonded warehouse facilities for partial exporters, as well as simplifying procedures for obtaining foreign loans and repatriating investment capital. Through an ‘Ambassador Program,’ various government agencies collaborated to resolve long-standing issues faced by major investors, including the Youngone Corporation. Furthermore, 19 priority sectors were identified using an ‘FDI Heatmap’ to provide clear strategic direction for attracting foreign direct investment. As part of these ongoing initiatives, ‘Invest Bangladesh’ announced a 180-day investment action plan in March 2026. The plan prioritizes infrastructure development, streamlining government services for investors, and advancing the implementation of potential investment projects. In September, Invest Bangladesh published a progress report on this action plan. Invest Bangladesh itself was formed through the merger of several agencies, bringing investment facilitation, economic zones, and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) activities under a single authority.
The jury specifically highlighted several initiatives, including ‘BanglaBiz’—Bangladesh’s integrated digital investment service platform—which connects investors to over 142 services provided by 47 government agencies. Furthermore, the role of Invest Bangladesh in advancing the $550 million Laldia Container Terminal project, undertaken by APM Terminals, was also specifically noted.
Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of Invest Bangladesh, stated, “I am grateful to the government and our stakeholders for supporting our reform initiatives aimed at improving the investment climate. I also thank the entire team at Invest Bangladesh, who work tirelessly every day to ensure that investors receive services more easily, quickly, and effectively. This recognition is the result of our collective effort.”
In 2025, net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bangladesh grew by approximately 39 percent. Currently, Invest Bangladesh is monitoring the progress of investment proposals worth nearly $1.3 billion from various sectors and countries. Transforming these potential investments into concrete projects is a key priority for the organization—an effort that is also crucial to developing Bangladesh into a regional manufacturing hub.
