Bangladesh bets on investment-led growth
Bangladesh is aiming to become a $1 trillion economy by 2034 through economic recovery, structural reforms and accelerated industrial transformation, with the government placing productive industrialisation and foreign investment at the centre of its long-term growth strategy, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Economy and Planning Professor Rashed Al Titumir said on Sunday.
Speaking at a seminar titled “Bangladesh-China Relations: Building Trust and New Directions” at North South University, Titumir said the government had accorded the highest priority to productive industrialisation and welcomed greater Chinese investment in manufacturing, economic zones and industrial parks.
“Productive industrialisation has been given the highest priority. Bangladesh welcomes Chinese investment in manufacturing, economic zones and industrial parks,” he said.
He said the government also planned to modernise Mongla Port, strengthen transport and logistics infrastructure and position Bangladesh as a regional logistics hub.
Highlighting the country’s broader economic diplomacy, Titumir said Bangladesh was pursuing an inclusive, balanced and realistic foreign policy aimed at protecting national interests while expanding economic cooperation with all major partners.
“Our foreign policy is inclusive, not exclusive,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China should not be viewed in isolation.
“As he visited China, he will also visit our neighbouring countries,” Titumir said, underscoring the government’s commitment to balanced diplomacy.
He said Bangladesh remained committed to strengthening relations not only with China but also with East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and neighbouring countries through pragmatic engagement under the government’s “Bangladesh First” policy.
According to the adviser, Bangladesh-China relations have entered a new phase of strategic cooperation following the Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing in June 2026, during which both countries announced the establishment of a Bangladesh-China Community with a Shared Future in the New Era.
“This declaration is not merely a diplomatic achievement. It is a commitment to building the future on the basis of mutual trust, deeper cooperation and shared prosperity,” he said.
Describing China as a trusted strategic partner, Titumir said bilateral relations were founded on mutual respect, sovereign equality, non-interference and a shared commitment to peace, stability and development.
He said the visit had created fresh opportunities for economic and strategic cooperation, including the proposed 2+2 Dialogue on diplomacy and defence and the inaugural foreign minister-level Strategic Dialogue.
Titumir also highlighted growing convergence between China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Bangladesh’s newly approved five-year reform and development strategy, saying both countries had significant opportunities to cooperate in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
