Experts call for policy reforms to drive investment in South Asia

Experts at an international conference have underscored the growing economic ties between South Asia and the global economy, while calling for greater trust, policy transparency and stronger investment cooperation across the region.

The conference, titled “International Investment and Digital Finance Conference 2026”, brought together policymakers, economists, entrepreneurs and diaspora leaders from the United States, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal to discuss the evolving digital economy, investment trends and international collaboration.

Organised by the US-based nonprofit In Search of Root Foundation (ISORF), the event was described by its president Raihanul Islam Chowdhury as a step towards fostering global economic dialogue.

“Digital finance is no longer the future; it is the present reality. Our goal is to build an inclusive, efficient and interconnected global financial system,” he said.

Held recently in Washington, DC, the two-day conference was moderated by Mark Jaffe, CEO and president of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce.

Avik Sanwar Rahman, a policy expert, said investment cannot be sustained without transparency, while Abdun Noor, former lead institutional development specialist at the World Bank, underscored the role of such dialogue in driving economic progress.

Raihan Elahi, Birupaksha Paul of the State University of New York, Kamal Quadir, founder and CEO of bKash, and Md Harun Ar Rashid of Bangladesh Bank discussed digital finance, regulatory frameworks and financial inclusion.

Speakers emphasised the importance of strong financial supervision, accountability and governance to ensure investor confidence. Discussions also covered AI-driven banking, risk management, enterprise financing, financial inclusion and cross-border investment.

Zafar Masud, president of the Bank of Punjab, presented a comparative economic outlook for Pakistan and Bangladesh, while Md Sarwar Hossain of Bangladesh Bank highlighted Bangladesh’s economic progress, citing stable exchange rates, easing inflation and investor-friendly policies.

Hussain M Elius, founder of Pathao and Fin.com, pointed to growing digital readiness across South Asia and Bangladesh’s expanding digital infrastructure as key drivers of future investment.