Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the BNP government is working to turn the country into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. He called on domestic and foreign entrepreneurs and investors to start new ventures and expand business in Bangladesh. “Our government is determined to turn Bangladesh into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034,” he said, adding that the budget has ensured specific incentives for priority sectors including renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, electronics, digital services, agro-processing, advanced textiles, healthcare and logistics.
He was speaking on Thursday afternoon at an FDI conference organised by the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is being established as a large manufacturing hub on the world stage, its ready-made garment industry is being diversified, and priority is being given to the technology and skills needed for human-resource development.
The FICCI FDI Conference 2026, on “accelerating foreign investment for employment and prosperity in Bangladesh,” opened with the national anthem, followed by a video presentation.
At the conference the prime minister called on investors to bring fresh capital investment to Bangladesh, assuring them of all kinds of support. “The new and far-sighted BNP government wants you to come to Bangladesh, take new initiatives and expand your business,” Tarique Rahman said.
Whether a domestic entrepreneur or a foreign investor, he said, anyone investing capital in Bangladesh will have the government’s institutional support and timely policies. “This is not merely an assurance; it is a specific commitment of our government.”
The prime minister said Bangladesh does face some challenges, but alongside them it has boundless potential and a solid foundation: a large and fast-growing domestic market, a young and hard-working workforce, a strategic geographical position and an elected government with overwhelming public support. Together these strengths are carrying Bangladesh towards sustainable and lasting prosperity.
The main goal, he said, is to build a rules-based economy connected to the global economy and driven by the dynamism of the private sector, with the party’s election manifesto providing a clear and specific outline of this economic transformation.
“We are not only inviting you to invest in Bangladesh, but earnestly calling on you to be trusted partners with us in realising this vision,” Tarique Rahman said.
The prime minister said the new government has completed five months in office, but its economic and policy preparation began long before the election. “We listened carefully to investors, entrepreneurs, business chambers, economists, development partners and policymakers,” he said.
Their core message was entirely clear, he said: increasing foreign direct investment in Bangladesh requires strong legal protection for investment, a modern and business-friendly regulatory framework, a simplified tax system, a smooth process for repatriating profits, a strong capital market and better infrastructure.
“So we are taking your words seriously too, and we have begun work accordingly,” Tarique Rahman said. The legal and regulatory framework is being modernised, investor protection strengthened and rapid dispute-resolution arrangements improved, he said, while tax and VAT administration is being simplified and the process of repatriating profits made hassle-free.
At the same time, he said, the government is building a dynamic capital market, encouraging startups, removing unnecessary rules and red tape, simplifying administrative processes and digitising public services. He also spoke of greater investment in renewable energy alongside ports, logistics infrastructure and overall energy security.
About 600 distinguished delegates from home and abroad attended the international conference in Dhaka, including senior government officials, policymakers, representatives of regulatory bodies, diplomats, development partners, multinational company executives, investors, business leaders and media workers.
FICCI president and Berger Paints Bangladesh managing director Rupali Haque Chowdhury delivered the opening address.
Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh’s future depends not only on attracting investment but on building lasting and credible partnerships. “I call on every business leader present here to be part of that promising future. Together we can build an economy that is strong, just and inclusive,” he said.
Looking around the auditorium, he said, he could see the bright presence of the most talented corporate heads, successful investors and distinguished experts from home and abroad, many of whom have chosen Bangladesh as a principal destination for expanding business and making new investments.
Praising investors, he said: “Your initiatives have created new jobs, introduced modern technology, enriched global supply chains and, above all, made an extraordinary contribution to Bangladesh’s economic progress. For this I express my sincere gratitude to you.”
The prime minister said he had himself begun his working life as a businessman before entering politics. “From that practical experience I learned that no business can succeed on an entrepreneur’s skill or political assurances alone; a large part of business success depends on the government’s growth-supporting policies.”
“I invite you all to open a new horizon of investment and success in Bangladesh. Let us move forward together on the path of prosperity, create new jobs and build the Bangladesh of tomorrow anew,” he said, calling on everyone to be partners in building a prosperous and globally connected Bangladesh.
The conference included an exchange of views on the opportunities and challenges in attracting foreign investment, and the “FICCI FDI” report was unveiled, presenting analyses, observations and recommendations aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s investment climate and accelerating sustainable economic growth. Before the formal opening the prime minister visited the investors’ expo and exchanged views with representatives of participating companies and organisations.
Others present included Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, State Minister for Land Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Mahdi Amin, adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, FICCI president and Berger Paints Bangladesh managing director Rupali Haque Chowdhury, and BIDA chairman Ashik Chowdhury, along with domestic and foreign investors and delegates.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report