ADB pledges support to help Bangladesh achieve a trillion-dollar economy by 2034: Yingming Yang

ADB Vice President Yingming Yang has said the Asian Development Bank is ready to support Bangladesh’s ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy and an upper-middle-income country by 2034.

He said ADB’s focus will be on promoting private sector-led growth, investment, economic diversification, reliable energy, stronger infrastructure, workforce skills and greater regional connectivity.

Yang noted that Bangladesh has shown strong economic resilience through remittances, services activity and a dynamic private sector. The next challenge, he said, is to turn that resilience into deeper economic transformation.

ADB projects Bangladesh’s GDP growth at 3.7% in FY2026 and 4.5% in FY2027, with stronger growth dependent on continued structural reforms.

He also highlighted the potential of the Integrated Growth Network Development (IGND) initiative to reduce logistics costs, expand economic opportunities beyond major cities and connect businesses with larger regional markets.

Yang said Bangladesh’s strategic location between South and Southeast Asia gives it significant potential to become a regional hub for transport, logistics, energy and digital connectivity.

He stressed that infrastructure development must be accompanied by efficient customs, harmonised standards, predictable regulations and seamless logistics to fully unlock Bangladesh’s regional economic potential.