Bangladesh had the highest growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) among South Asian countries in 2025. Over the period, FDI inflows to the country rose by about 45 percent from the previous year to reach US$1.78 billion.
The figures appear in the World Investment Report 2026 of UNCTAD, the United Nations trade and development body.
According to the report, FDI inflows to Bangladesh were US$1.23 billion in 2024, rising to US$1.78 billion in 2025. Despite a challenging global investment climate, this growth reflects the growing confidence of international investors in Bangladesh’s economy.
The report was published at a time when global investment flows are uneven because of geopolitical tension, trade uncertainty and the high cost of money. Against this backdrop, the report noted Bangladesh’s strong FDI growth among South Asian countries as particularly notable.
Although FDI’s share in gross fixed capital formation is relatively low, the report said domestic investment still played an important role as one of the main strengths of Bangladesh’s growth model.
UNCTAD said developing Asia retained its position as the world’s leading investment destination in 2025, with a total of US$644 billion in FDI coming to the region. Bangladesh’s success reflects the broader regional trend of investors’ continued interest in Asian economies.
According to the report, global FDI rose 6 percent in 2025 to US$1.6 trillion after two consecutive years of decline, a recovery driven by investment in digital infrastructure, manufacturing, energy-transition technology and other strategic sectors.
The report said Bangladesh had further broad potential to attract foreign investment in manufacturing, services, infrastructure and technology-based industries. According to analysts, the country’s large domestic market, competitive workforce, strategic geographic location and ongoing economic reforms have created a strong base for future FDI growth. With a GDP of more than half a trillion dollars and steady progress in industrialization and connectivity, Bangladesh is increasingly gaining importance on the international stage as a promising destination for long-term investment.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report