Bangladesh has been working to increase investment, both local and foreign, in recent years, recognizing that it shall be an integral component for it to fulfil its ambitions.
To that end, it is encouraging to see that Japanese companies continue to be keen on investing in our country; indeed, over the past 10 years, the number of Japanese companies in Bangladesh have increased to 321 from just 83.
This is extremely good news for our local businesses as well; Japan has been a leader particularly in technology for decades now, and Bangladesh’s intent to pivot to more technology-based industries can be greatly aided with Japan’s assistance.
All of this tells us that we remain on the right track with regard to boosting investment and business, but that more certainly needs to be done.
Despite Bangladesh’s undeniable progress over the past dozen or so years, there remain legitimate worries with regard to its ability to attract foreign investment and create an overall business culture that would be favourable for investors.
However, the increasing year on year growth of FDI in the country is an encouraging sign, and shows that our authorities have taken note of this issue now, and appear to be prioritizing rectifying it. What is important is to keep up the momentum, and continue exploring partnerships to further enhance the investment and business climate of Bangladesh.
If Bangladesh is to become a high-income nation, it cannot do so without significant investment. However, there is genuine hope that soon enough, the narrative surrounding Bangladesh of being a difficult country to invest in will completely change, and instead, it shall be regarded as a safe haven for business and a top choice for investors across the globe.