Bangladesh efforts to attract US investment

Bangladesh is actively seeking to attract $5 billion in United States investment over the next five years. During the 30th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Bangladesh, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir expressed the government’s readiness to collaborate with American firms to expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and facilitate technology transfer.

While bilateral trade currently exceeds $13 billion and AmCham member companies have invested over $5 billion, several challenges for foreign investors remain. Experts have identified administrative complexities, corruption, and shortages in energy and infrastructure as persistent issues. Additionally, concerns regarding energy security have emerged following government statements suggesting uncertainty in gas and electricity supplies for the next two years. To address these issues and improve the investment climate, the government has signaled a move toward deregulation and the implementation of a five-year tax roadmap.

Expanding on these efforts, Prime Minister Tarek Rahman promoted Bangladesh’s investment potential during a meeting with business leaders at JPMorgan’s headquarters in Manhattan, held alongside the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Drawing on his professional background in the business sector, Rahman emphasized that investment requires “confidence, predictability, and an environment conducive to growth.”

He identified several priority sectors for potential investment, including energy, infrastructure, logistics, technology, digital services, climate finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare. While noting Bangladesh’s established status as a garment and manufacturing hub, Rahman highlighted the country’s broader potential driven by its strategic location and a young workforce. He expressed a long-term economic goal of building a “one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.”