A joint 180-day action plan has been unveiled to transform Bangladesh’s investment landscape

A comprehensive 180-day joint action plan was unveiled on Sunday evening to revamp Bangladesh’s investment climate.

The plan was presented to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman by Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), according to a press release issued today.

The roadmap brings together the strategic efforts of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), and the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA).

“Our plan focuses on building an investment-led economy, accelerating job creation, and boosting both domestic and foreign investment in Bangladesh through targeted, implementation-driven reforms,” said Ashik Chowdhury.

He noted that amid global economic uncertainty, the immediate priority is to support and accelerate investment by local entrepreneurs while continuing efforts to attract foreign investors.

“At this stage, our growth strategy centers on enabling local investors to expand and helping those already operating in Bangladesh scale up their investments,” he added.

The 180-day roadmap outlines 25 initiatives structured around three key pillars: robust infrastructure, investment facilitation, and investment development.

Of these initiatives, 13 fall under robust infrastructure, aimed at strengthening logistics and investment enablers; seven focus on investment facilitation, designed to improve investor services and support; and five are dedicated to investment development, targeting sector-specific growth and expanding investment opportunities.

Under the infrastructure pillar, priority actions include port modernization, implementation of the Chinese Economic Zone, expansion of ready-to-use plots in industrial parks, progress on the Free Trade Zone and Defence Economic Zone, and revitalization of state-owned enterprises through public-private partnerships, foreign investment, and conversion into economic zones.

The plan also includes steps to strengthen energy initiatives and explore alternative energy sources.

In the investment facilitation pillar, the focus is on institutional reform and improved investor services. Key measures include unifying investment promotion agencies such as Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA), and Public-Private Partnership Authority.

The plan also calls for advancing negotiations on the Bangladesh–South Korea Free Trade Agreement, forming a private-sector advisory council led by the prime minister, strengthening inter-ministerial coordination, and launching BanglaBiz as a single-window digital platform for investors.

Additionally, it includes efforts to resolve challenges faced by major investors and to establish BIDA’s first overseas office in China.

Under the investment development pillar, the roadmap emphasizes nationwide industry mapping and building a pipeline of foreign direct investment (FDI) in priority sectors such as agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, leather, textiles, and information technology from key partner countries.

The initiative also aims to expand the blue economy through deep-sea fishing, mariculture, and export-oriented shrimp processing, alongside introducing a new FDI incentive scheme.

Together, these initiatives — aligned with the government’s manifesto — represent a coordinated effort to improve infrastructure, strengthen investment facilitation, and create a stronger pipeline of future investment opportunities for Bangladesh.