Bangladesh gets $1b in investment proposals in Jan-May

The country has received investment proposals amounting to nearly $1 billion in the first five months of this year, pointing to renewed confidence in the country's economy, according to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).

Of the total, foreign investors accounted for $550 million, while local investors proposed $450 million.

Nahian Rahman Rochi, head of business development at Bida, said around 20 percent of the proposals have reached an advanced stage, which includes signed agreements, land lease approvals and allotment letters.

He shared the information yesterday while exchanging views with journalists at the Bida auditorium in Dhaka.

"The figures indicate rising investor interest in Bangladesh's special economic zones (SEZs), which continue to be a core pillar of the government's industrialisation drive," Rochi said.

"Our focus is not just on the volume but also on the quality and sustainability of investments. If this momentum continues and facilitation becomes more streamlined, the next five months could yield even more impactful outcomes," said the Bida business development head.

He added that the trend marks a milestone in the post-pandemic recovery and reflects growing trust from both local and foreign investors.

According to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza), about 60 percent of the proposed investments are still in the exploratory stage, which includes feasibility studies and early project discussions. Another 20 percent are undergoing detailed assessment before documentation.

"This is a standard pattern for large-scale investments," said Rochi. "Globally, most proposals begin in the exploratory phase and, with the right facilitation, gradually move toward implementation."

Officials believe this phased pipeline offers a realistic outlook for capital inflows over the next one to two years.

At the programme, Major General (Retd) Md Nazrul Islam, executive member (planning and development) at Beza, said they are developing a unified investment portal to improve transparency and ease of doing business.

He said the system will bring together data on investment status, zone-specific updates, land availability and approval timelines.

"Currently, updates are often fragmented across agencies," Islam said. "This platform will standardise data-sharing and align decision-making processes across departments."

The portal is expected to strengthen investor confidence by allowing real-time tracking of projects and cutting red tape in follow-ups.

Beza has also launched a dedicated research unit, supported by international consultants, to identify promising sectors such as rubber, furniture, pharmaceuticals and tourism.

"Policy without data is directionless," Nazrul noted. "We are investing in long-term research to better understand investor priorities and align them with national development goals."

Even so, he warned that securing proposals is only the first step. "From land acquisition to infrastructure readiness and utility services, the process requires coordination," he said.