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Wednesday | October 21, 2026 | Dhaka

BD seeks Chinese banks to boost $19b trade

 Business Report
 Published: 12:09 AM, 21 October 2026  Updated: 10:38 PM, 20 October 2026

Bangladesh is seeking to attract Chinese banks to establish a local presence to support trade and investment between the two countries, whose bilateral trade reached $19 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The initiative was highlighted at “Bangladesh Day”, jointly organised by the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) and Invest Bangladesh at the Chinese bank’s headquarters in Beijing on 20 October.

The event brought together representatives of 11 Chinese financial institutions, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China, alongside 26 Chinese companies operating in sectors ranging from infrastructure and energy to information technology, electronics and agriculture.

Invest Bangladesh Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun attended as the chief guest.

China Exim Bank Vice President Wang Kang and Bangladesh Ambassador to China Nazmul Islam also addressed the programme, according to a press release from Invest Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Bank and Invest Bangladesh jointly presented a keynote paper titled “The Next Frontier – Bangladesh-China Financial Connectivity”, outlining opportunities to deepen financial cooperation.

The presentation noted that despite bilateral trade reaching $19 billion in fiscal 2024-25, no Chinese bank currently operates in Bangladesh.

It also highlighted the presence of Chinese banks in other markets, including Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, which have comparable trade ties with China.

The programme showcased investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s priority sectors, the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) and the Mongla Economic Zone.

Speaking at the event, Ashik Chowdhury said stronger financial links could help Chinese companies operating in Bangladesh access trade finance, equipment financing, working capital and long-term investment funding.

“The next frontier of Bangladesh-China cooperation is financial connectivity,” he said, adding that greater participation by Chinese financial institutions could benefit businesses in both countries and facilitate investment.

Wang Kang said China Exim Bank was currently involved in nearly 40 projects in Bangladesh across infrastructure, energy, agriculture, processing and manufacturing.

He added that the bank would encourage more leading Chinese companies to invest directly in Bangladesh’s priority sectors, including textiles and healthcare, while continuing to finance activities supporting the country’s real economy.

The event also featured a session on China Exim Bank’s role in financing bilateral trade and investment, followed by discussions between financial institutions and businesses on funding requirements, investment prospects and potential partnerships.