The next chapter in Bangladesh–China cooperation may well be financial connectivity. Today in Beijing, we worked with China EXIM Bank to bring some of the world’s largest banks into the room and open a practical conversation around local banking presence in Bangladesh — something our market does not yet have. Chinese investors need the right financial support to scale. Bangladeshi businesses, in turn, need better access to technology and productive partnerships. Thankful to our partners for helping open this conversation and take this workstream forward.

Starlink connecting Bangladesh!

Bangladesh is getting ready to move trade at global speed. Today we appointed DP World to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), which handles more than a third of the country's container traffic. The goal is clear: to raise NCT's performance to global standards. That means faster turnaround for shippers, more efficient use of our port assets, and better opportunities for our workforce. This is about more than a change of operator. It is a clear signal that Bangladesh is open for business and steadfast in pursuing its economic ambitions. My thanks to colleagues across government, our partners, and the public for their support. #Bangladesh #Trade #Ports #Investment

Constructive discussion with US Ambassador Brent T. Christensen on creating more opportunities for high-quality US investment in Bangladesh — including in energy, agriculture, infrastructure and other priority sectors. We also discussed the facilitation already under way for US investors and how we can help serious projects move faster.

Dhaka’s new terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport 🛬 will be one of the first places many people experience Bangladesh. It now has to do more than open on time — it has to improve passenger experience, cargo and logistics, operational efficiency, and the way Bangladesh connects to the world. Visited the terminal today with government ministers to review progress on the ground. A major PPP project being taken forward by Invest Bangladesh, our target remains operational readiness by 16 December.

Bringing three institutions under one roof is the easy part. Building one team, one culture and one standard of service is the real work. Addressed the Invest Bangladesh team on what comes next: how the merger will be implemented, what the government expects, and the standard investors should experience from the new institution. One point was especially clear: how we work now will define how Invest Bangladesh is seen. Faster decisions. Better coordination. One organisation built around the investor. #InvestBangladesh

The Netherlands was Bangladesh’s largest source of net FDI in 2025. That gives us a strong foundation for the next phase of the relationship 🇧🇩 🇳🇱 Met Dutch investors at our Embassy in Netherlands today to talk through what is changing in Bangladesh: our economic agenda, where opportunities are opening up, and how Invest Bangladesh will help investors navigate the system. Good investment starts with good information. The point of today was to make sure serious investors have a clearer view of both the opportunity and the path in.

Today, we officially begin our journey as the unified investment promotion agency, 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵. The Invest Bangladesh identity sets our heritage in motion. Custom geometric letterforms strike a distinctly forward-looking note. At its centre, the "D" of Bangladesh opens into a play button — a universal cue to begin, to move, to press ahead. Draped in the red and green of our flag, it carries the country's story into a single promise: a plug-and-play, future-ready investment destination. #InvestBangladesh

Ahead of tomorrow’s anticipated completion announcement for the Bangladesh-South Korea Economic Partnership Agreement or #CEPA 🇧🇩🇰🇷, HPM led a focused exchange with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-Koo. The agreement with one of Asia’s leading technology economies is set to deepen investment ties and open new opportunities in electronics, semiconductors, automobiles and shipbuilding. It was a pleasure meeting Minister Yeo in Seoul last year. Proud that our teams have steadily moved forward to the signing stage.

Last Thursday, Bangladesh's Parliament paved the way for a stronger, unified investment promotion agency: 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵. 🇧🇩 Restructuring and streamlining government agencies for ease of doing business is a rare feat. We thank the Prime Minister for his leadership and all parliamentary members for their support. This reform responds to a problem investors and officials have grappled with for years. Due diligence, PPP discussion, registration, site selection — these are all part of one journey for an investor, but fragmented agencies made that sequence harder than it needed to be. Investors now have a single point of contact in government. Key highlights of the Invest Bangladesh Bill, 2026: → Mandatory timelines for government service delivery — no more months or years of waiting → Authority to recruit talent at all levels from the private sector → A single digital platform for investor services → A mandate to drive privatisation of state-owned entities → A pathway to establish Free Trade Zones #InvestBangladesh

We firmly believe the private sector is best placed to run commercial enterprises, and government's role is to enable — not compete with — private capital. We are calling all the investors to join us in revitalising state-owned enterprises through private sector investment. This win-win formula offers the private sector an opportunity to grow on the back of plug and play setups while the government benefits from job creation and a lighter fiscal burden. So far, 44 opportunities have been identified across state bodies in steel, textiles, chemicals, sugar, food, and jute, covering more than 10,000 acres of land. The portfolio has a nationwide footprint, covering major industrial belts across multiple districts. These are not random assets. They were built on strategic land, with utilities, access and, in many cases, industrial communities already in place. We are speaking to both local and foreign investors about bringing these assets back into productive use. Some may return to the sectors they were originally built for. Others may be better used for new industries that can reduce imports or support exports. Investors will also have a clear pathway to acquiring these assets, with transparent structures, faster approvals and coordinated facilitation. Interested investors can visit the webpage [investbangladesh.gov.bd/soe-…] to further explore the full portfolio. #InvestBangladesh #PPP

In Beijing last week, 'investment' took the centre stage in our discussions with the Chairman, CCPCC, the Foreign Minister and other dignitaries across multiple agencies. The message was clear: the case for Bangladesh is there, but the Chinese investors need the right platform and support. - The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Anowara, Chattogram will give Chinese investors a dedicated industrial platform. - The Bangladesh–China Bilateral Investment Treaty will strengthen legal protection for long-term capital. - Engagement with CCPIT, Chexim and leading Chinese businesses will help build the institutional channel we need in China, especially as BIDA works toward its first overseas office. These priorities also sit within the joint 180-day delivery agenda of Bangladesh’s investment agencies. Watch the space!

Delay in approvals should not be the reason good projects slow down. In today’s meeting chaired by the Honorable Prime Minister, there was strong emphasis on simplifying project permits, removing avoidable clearance requirements and making it easier for private investors to take idle state assets back into production. This gives investment facilitation a clear operating focus. We look forward to working with the relevant arms of government to take this forward.

Bangladesh does not lack plans or intent. The real test is execution. From UNCTAD's Report on the Implementation of the Investment Policy Review of Bangladesh, launched today, the line that stood out to me was: Bangladesh needs a second phase of reform. Phase one gave us institutions, platforms and policy movement. Phase two must ensure simpler services, stronger agencies and deregulation. The global investment outlook remains challenging amid geopolitical tensions. We are using this period to strengthen readiness so that when the tide turns, Bangladesh 🇧🇩 is better placed to welcome investors. Thanks to @UNCTAD, @UNDP and partners for this useful stocktake. 👉 unctad.org/system/files/offi…

Joined the national revenue authority and industry groups today for the FY2026–27 pre-budget discussion. Bangladesh’s investment agencies have maintained structured dialogues with the National Board of Revenue on rational private-sector asks. Based on this, we submitted specific budget recommendations to remove non-tariff barriers and simplify regulations, while protecting revenue priorities. Our proposals focus especially on emerging sectors and long-term local production. We hope they are reflected in the budget.

PPP is the right model to revive the state’s closed industrial assets. Joined the Honorable Minister and State Minister for Textiles & Jute in a stakeholder discussion on reopening 6 closed jute mills under private initiative within 6 months, with a phased approach for the rest. Our job now is to keep structuring these idle mills for execution and move credible operators from interest to signed agreements and production. #180DayPlan

🇯🇵🇧🇩 JETRO has been a steady partner for Bangladesh—bringing us practical, on-the-ground insight from Japanese firms already operating here and those considering entry. It was a pleasure to meet Executive Vice President Akiko Okumura and the team today to discuss priority issues and how we can better support Japanese companies as they invest and expand in Bangladesh. JETRO’s disciplined market intelligence remain a real asset for policy and facilitation work.

Bangladesh and the UK have signed a MoU to strengthen Public-Private Partnership (PPP) cooperation in the aviation sector. The agreement reinforces shared commitments to boosting investment and job creation for the benefit of both BD and the UK. ✈️🤝