PM Tarique seeks Chinese investment

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has invited Chinese companies to extend their value chains into Bangladesh and help create the next great Asian economic miracle in the country.

“We are inviting Chinese companies to extend their value chains into Bangladesh. We can help Chinese companies serve global markets while benefiting from growing domestic demand,” he said, reports state news agency BSS.

The Prime Minister was addressing the Bangladesh Investment Forum, attended by business leaders, industrialists and institutional investors.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) organised the event at the Diaoyutai Hotel.

The Prime Minister added: “Bangladesh is inviting you to co-author the next great Asian economic miracle. Many Chinese investors are already operating in Bangladesh. They can speak about our people, our resilience and our potential. They can tell you that Bangladesh can deliver.”

Tarique Rahman invited more Chinese companies to visit Bangladesh and see the opportunities firsthand, as his government has made an unwavering commitment to investors that their investments will be valued, their concerns heard and their growth supported through a more responsive investment ecosystem.

“Let us move forward from this forum with a shared determination to transform the opportunities in this region into long-term sustainable growth, economic development and mutual prosperity for both Bangladesh and China,” he said.

“Come to Bangladesh. Invest in Bangladesh. Let us prosper together in a true partnership of equals,” he added.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is undergoing a major economic and governance transformation.

“We are at a critical point in our journey, and I can clearly say that Bangladesh is open for business, ready for the future, and keen to work with China, one of our longstanding and trusted friends,” he said.

China is moving up the global value chain. Chinese companies are becoming leaders in advanced manufacturing, high-value infrastructure and clean energy, he said.

As China moves up the ladder, parts of the manufacturing ecosystem will look for new, competitive and trusted locations, he said, adding that Bangladesh can be one of them.

“We are inviting Chinese companies to extend their value chains into Bangladesh. We can help Chinese companies serve global markets while benefiting from growing domestic demand.

“This is a complementary, practical and win-win relationship. Words must be matched by structural actions,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said his government has adopted a rigorous 180-day action plan designed to overhaul the machinery dealing with international capital and demonstrate its commitment.

“Through this plan, we are targeting bureaucratic inertia head-on. We are improving long-term policy continuity, reducing overlapping regulatory processes, and digitalising government services to improve transparency, predictability and speed,” he said.

Foreign investors can expect non-discriminatory treatment, repatriation of capital and dividends in line with the country's laws and regulations, and robust legal protection, he said.

“We are developing dedicated industrial landing points for Chinese investors, including the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Anwara and a second economic zone in Mongla,” said the Prime Minister.

These locations provide logistics, port connectivity, utilities, workers, suppliers and a long-term ecosystem, he added.

“We are also working with China to upgrade our bilateral investment treaty so that investors can have stronger confidence, clearer protection and a more modern framework for investment,” he said.

“The apex investment promotion agency BIDA now has a dedicated relationship management desk for Chinese investors. As you have seen, there is also a dedicated website for Chinese investors so that sectoral opportunities, incentives and processes can be accessed more easily,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that Bangladesh will soon open its first Investment Office in China.

“Our objective is simple. Chinese investors should not have to wait until they arrive in Bangladesh to receive support. We want to be closer to you, speak to you more regularly and help you move faster from interest to decision,” he said.

“We are also working hard to improve our broader investment ecosystem. The government is about to start a new licensing approval process that will allow new businesses to begin operations in Bangladesh in less than 15 days,” said the Prime Minister.

“We have just announced the national budget, which includes sector-specific incentives and policy benefits for our priority sectors, including renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, electronics, digital infrastructure, agro-processing and advanced textiles,” he said.

He said all these initiatives have one purpose: to ensure that investors and businesses can establish themselves in Bangladesh with greater ease, confidence and clarity.

“I will not stand here and say that everything is perfect. But I want to assure you that we know the issues, we are working on them, and we will continue to address them,” he said.

BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury delivered a special presentation to Chinese business leaders on the investment opportunities and incentives available in Bangladesh.

A total of 125 Chinese business representatives participated in the conference.

Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, Prime Minister’s Adviser and PMO Spokesman Mahdi Amin, and Deputy Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, among others, were present.