HSBC, Jica focus on special economic zone as key driver of investment

Bangladesh’s rising investment potential and evolving economic landscape took centre stage as global development partners and industry leaders underscored the need for stronger collaboration, investor confidence and structured industrial growth.

Speaking at an event, titled “Unlocking Bangladesh Investment Horizons: A Spotlight on Bangladesh Special Economic Zone”, Takahashi Junko, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) Bangladesh Office, said Jica is committed to catalysing private investment and creating an environment where businesses can make informed decisions with confidence.

She said such platforms help deepen understanding of Bangladesh Special Economic Zone’s (BSEZ) potential, clarify practical investment considerations and encourage new partnerships to support the country’s next phase of economic growth.

The event, jointly organised by HSBC Bangladesh and BSEZ, brought together policymakers, diplomats, regulators, investors, business leaders and trade bodies to explore Bangladesh’s investment outlook and industrial priorities, according to a press release.

In his remarks, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), said Bangladesh must now shift towards more structured industrial growth, with special economic zones playing a central role.

“SEZs provide investors with land, infrastructure and a more predictable operating environment. What matters now is bringing policymakers, financial institutions and global investors into the same room, because investment flows when confidence and execution align,” he said.

He also appreciated HSBC and BSEZ for facilitating dialogue on Bangladesh’s economic-zone opportunities.

Md Mahbub ur Rahman, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh, said the global investment landscape is shifting from “efficiency first” to “resilience first”, positioning Bangladesh as a key destination for diversification.

He said initiatives like BSEZ offer a strong public-private partnership model and the stable ecosystem needed for businesses to scale efficiently and with speed.

Chiharu Tagawa, managing director of Bangladesh SEZ Ltd, presented “A Model Economic Zone: Showcasing BSEZ”, highlighting its strategic vision, infrastructure readiness and investment prospects.

He described BSEZ as a model industrial platform aimed at accelerating diversification and job creation, calling it “a world-class industrial platform for Bangladesh’s future”.