$1b FDI recorded despite gloomy outlook: BIDA
Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has reported that the country received nearly US$1 billion in foreign investment proposals over the past nine months, countering recent claims that foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bangladesh has stalled.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday, BIDA rejected recent remarks made by “an industry representative” who alleged that FDI had dried up and that the authority had been inactive in promoting joint ventures or engaging with potential investors.
According to BIDA, Bangladesh received net FDI amounting to US$756 million (approximately Tk 9,247 crore) between October 2024 and March 2025, directly refuting the assertion that no new foreign investments had been made in the preceding eight months.
During the same period, BIDA registered 739 industrial projects, including 66 fully foreign-owned ventures and 61 joint ventures. The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) also signed land lease agreements with 16 companies – six fully foreign-owned and three joint ventures.
Additionally, the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) inked investment agreements with 31 companies. Taken together, proposed foreign investments during this period totalled nearly US$1 billion (around Tk 12,220 crore), according to BIDA.
The agency expressed concern over what it described as “sweeping and misleading statements” regarding FDI trends, cautioning that such commentary could harm the country’s image among global investors. It called on all stakeholders to ensure that public statements are grounded in verifiable data.
Reaffirming its commitment to fostering a favourable investment climate, BIDA highlighted its ongoing policy and institutional reforms, aimed at strengthening connections between domestic and international investors.
The authority also underscored its role in the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, where it organised sector-specific business-to-business (B2B) networking sessions in collaboration with business chambers, financial institutions, and private sector partners.
Looking ahead, BIDA announced that over 100 B2B meetings have been scheduled with a high-level Chinese business delegation expected to visit next week. The discussions will focus on key sectors such as textiles, food processing, and electronics.
“Foreign investments typically require time to materialise-a fact well understood in the global investment community,” BIDA stated, emphasising the importance of patience and data-driven analysis when assessing investment flows.