Bangladesh is open for business: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the government is committed to creating an investment-friendly environment in Bangladesh, stressing that “Bangladesh is open for business.”

He made the remarks at a breakfast meeting with top Wall Street business leaders and investors at JPMorgan’s headquarters in Manhattan on Friday morning. The prime minister is in New York to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Tarique said Bangladesh has a population of more than 180 million, a young workforce, a growing market and a strategic geographic location.

He said the country offers investment opportunities in energy, infrastructure, logistics, technology, digital services, manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare, beyond its traditional strength in the readymade garment sector.

The government aims to build a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and turn Bangladesh into a globally connected hub for manufacturing, investment and services, he said.

He said the government is working to simplify regulations, strengthen investor protection, improve tax and VAT administration, facilitate profit repatriation and develop infrastructure.

The prime minister also expressed the government’s interest in deepening economic ties with the United States, Japan, South Korea, the European Union and China.

He urged Wall Street institutions to invest in Bangladesh and build long-term businesses, saying the government was ready to listen to investors and remove obstacles where possible.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Special Assistant for Investment and Capital Market Tanvir Gani will work closely with investors, he said.

Top Wall Street business leaders, investors and representatives of financial institutions attended the meeting.

-AJM