Bangladesh turns incredible business hub for global investors

Mia Golam Porwar :

The geographical location of Bangladesh is being considered as the limitless blessing of the Almighty Allah.

The people not only from home, but also from abroad generally take these advantages to gear up the wave of public oriented multi-purpose acts.

Here, we have a good number of exceptional facilities, including cheap labour and transportation, business- friendly weather, foreign trade priority-based policies and hassle-free secured investment and returns along with the harmonious relations from all walks of lives.

The increasing trend of our economy with newly exploring industrial opportunities is also attracting the foreign investors in various sectors like infra-structure, blue economy, navigation, ports, power, and energy, agriculture and food processing, education, health, and pharmaceuticals.

Under these circumstances, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, as an ethics-based major political party, also a big stake holder; is committed to build a robust, dynamic, and investment-friendly economy in Bangladesh.

I would like to highly appreciate the foreign investors for joining the exclusive business journey on the new road followed by students- led mass upsurge in August in 2024.

We believe in fostering the atmosphere where foreign investment may flourish to create more opportunities to drive sustainable economic growth.

The incumbent interim government is prioritizing business-oriented reforms, updating corporate policies, emphasizing automation, and facilitating infrastructure development so that the foreign investors can be the key partners to play the pivotal role in the global market.

We offer the most liberal foreign direct investment facilities in South Asia, allowing 100 percent foreign ownership with an unrestricted exit policy, easy remittance of royalties and repatriation of profits with the principal money.

Bangladesh also offers a number of export-oriented industrial zones with infrastructural and utility services and also with trade facilities and logistical support for the foreign investors.

Now, the local and the foreign entrepreneurs are encouraged to invest more in Bangladesh to take advantage of the country’s existing investment-friendly location. The foreign financiers should consider the offers from the just concluded Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025. I would like to again call the foreigners to invest more here to get extra opportunities than other countries.

Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. We provide more trade and investment facilities for the foreign investors. The government has taken many steps, including 100 economic zones, dozens of export processing zones, special economic zones, hi-tech parks, tourism parks and other investment platforms.

These investment-friendly opportunities like competitive wages, strategic location, stable policies, exchange rate and political situation, and huge youth working population, have already opened for the investors. With higher growth aspirations, Bangladesh has set a target to lift foreign direct investment to 3 per cent of its gross domestic product by 2031.

The Bangladesh Bank has recently relaxed the reporting requirement for issuing shares to foreign investors in exchange for foreign exchange brought into the country through banking channels. The move has been taken as Bangladesh declared its defining strengths — solid economic fundamentals, globally competitive resources, and one of the highest returns on investment in the region.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami hopes that this esteemed event will act as a turning point for the distinguished investors, offering a platform to showcase the country’s progress while allowing policymakers to engage directly with international stakeholders. We strongly believe the foreign investors will respond to our appeal to invest in Bangladesh to consider the lucrative destination for investment.

Foreign Investment opportunities in Bangladesh are attracted from the entire world including Japan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Germany, Norway, Singapore, etc. leading to the production of 26 industrial units in the Bangladesh Economic Zones and a set of another 61 economic industrial units are set to go into the production.

In addition, Bangladesh holds Double Taxation Treaties with approximately 40 nations which prevent the double taxation regulated by DTI and unrestricted foreign ownership of property in Bangladesh offers a direct increase in Foreign Investment Opportunities in Bangladesh.

Also, the increase in foreign investment opportunities in Bangladesh mainly accounts for the tax holiday benefits offered by the Government of Bangladesh similar to a 5-year tax exemption plan for businesses located in particular districts and, 100 per cent exemption of taxes on incomes & and other capital gains for 10 years in Infrastructure and Economic Zones and involving services similar to software development, worldwide telecommunication department, interest on foreign loans etc.

Bangladesh has nearly 31 bilateral treaties providing for Foreign Investment Opportunities in Bangladesh. These treaties assure the investors to get equal treatment as the local companies.

Being a mainstream Party, Bangladesh Jamaat Islami promotes investment with commitment and ethics, and is dedicated to turning Bangladesh into a global hub for investment, particularly in key sectors such as manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, and renewable energy, food industry, automobile industry etc. We welcome you to Bangladesh and eagerly want to see your multifaceted development and welfare activities in our country.

(The author is an ex-MP and Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.)