Despite substantial spending, many digitisation initiatives have turned into opportunities for rent-seeking rather than reform.

$303 million foreign investment came in during the period

The political vacuum that Bangladesh finds itself in is not just a constitutional or moral problem.

This net inflow was 114 percent higher than the $403 million recorded in the same period a year earlier.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said that large-scale Chinese investment in Bangladesh can be a game changer for the country’s economy.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed will lead the panel

Foreign direct investment (FDI) from China in Bangladesh has risen to $2.67 billion as of September 2024, according to official data, cementing China’s position as the country’s second-largest investor.

Bangladesh’s investment-to-GDP ratio declined by 0.25 percentage points to 30.70 percent in the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, according to official data, signalling a potential slowdown in future economic growth.

The inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bangladesh is facing critical challenges as a plethora of factors have caused it to stagnate to a mere 0.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in recent years.

The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh fell to $104.33 million in the July-September quarter of fiscal year 2024-25, the lowest in at least six years, as foreign investors stayed away from Bangladesh amid deadly political unrest, labour agitation, and a persistent economic crisis.

Yunus asked the executives to maintain transparency in businesses

Says Ashik Chowdhury, head of government’s key investment promotion agencies BIDA, BEZA

A lack of safety in foreign manufacturing and industrial units in Bangladesh, stemming from the debilitating law and order situation and labour unrest, has become a cause of major concern for foreign investors, denting their confidence.

Govt has a lot to do to recover business and investor confidence

In 2023, existing companies reinvested earnings of $2.20 billion out of total net FDI inflow of $3 billion. This means that 73.5 percent of FDI came from existing investors.

Foreign direct investments to Bangladesh snapped its rising trend in 2023, highlighting the nervousness outside investors face in pumping money into a country whose foreign exchange regime is experiencing one of its worst periods in recent times

Government should focus on making entrepreneurship easy and hassle-free

Political will needed to address major trade, investment barriers

Fostering a conducive environment for expatriate contributions is vital

Increased private, foreign investments key to our economic recovery