Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong said as Bangladesh diversifies its economy, implements reforms, and prepares to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026, ADB is emphasizing greater efficiency and effectiveness in implementing projects faster.
He said this while participating in Business Opportunities Seminar-2025 organized by ADB at the China-Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Monday.
He said, "We are working with partners to reduce procurement time to ensure economic efficiency, fairness, transparency, quality, and best use of money. In light of ADB's private sector expansion strategy, we are also expanding business opportunities in this sector."
More than 500 consultants, contractors, suppliers, civil society organizations, government officials, development partners, diplomatic mission staff, and individuals from various organizations or institutions participated in the seminar.
Jesper Pedersen, Director of ADB's Procurement, Portfolio and Financial Management Department, delivered the keynote address. He said ADB is further improving its processes to meet the growing and changing needs of developing member countries.
In this, special emphasis is being placed on maintaining sustainability, transparency and quality, he said.
Senior Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division Md. Ehsanul Haque, inaugurated the program. Members of Bangladesh Association of Consulting Engineers and Architects (BACEA), Bangladesh Association of Construction Industry (BECI) and Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) were also present at the programme.
ADB said during its 52-year partnership with Bangladesh, the agency has provided more than US$62 billion in loans and grants (co-financing), which have been spent on improving the quality of the country's infrastructure, public services and social development. ADB's project portfolio in Bangladesh currently includes 51 projects and programs, valued at more than $12 billion.
ADB said it will continue its commitment to developing the local industrial sector, and Bangladeshi contractors and consultants have consistently won contracts domestically and internationally. The organization expects these opportunities to increase as ADB's operations expand in the country in future.
