FROM PAGE 12

bureaucratic and uncertain to modern, structured, and welcoming.

The BIDA chairman said, “We are not here to promise $10 billion in investments overnight. What we are doing instead is laying the groundwork -- building institutions, fixing fundamentals, and sending the right signals to serious investors.”

He underscored the importance of continuous political support in maintaining investor confidence.

“Investors need to be assured that policies won’t be reversed after elections. That’s why we have engaged with all major political parties, including the BNP, NCP, and Jamaat-e-Islami. They have assured us of their support for investment continuity.”

The BIDA has formed dedicated committees with the parties to keep investment issues bipartisan and ensure long-term reform momentum.

Unlike traditional conferences, the Investment Summit will feature immersive field activities, including visits to the National Economic Zone in Mirsarai, Chattogram, and the Japanese Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj, direct engagement with factory operators and sector-focused breakout sessions.

“This is not about sitting in air-conditioned rooms. Delegates will walk the sites, talk to real businesses and get a real sense of Bangladesh’s capabilities.”

More than 700 participants from more than 40 countries are expected, including institutional investors, international development partners, and non-resident Bangladeshis.

Among the attendees are Óscar García Maceiras, the chief executive officer of Inditex; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World; Kyeongsu Lee, vice-president of Samsung Construction and Trading Corporation; Jon Omund Revhaug, executive vice-president and head of Telenor Asia; and Han Jun-seok, CEO of Giordano Korea.

“Some companies attending have combined GDPs larger than Bangladesh’s,” said Ashik.

Baroness Rosie Winterton of Doncaster, DBE, the UK’s trade envoy to Bangladesh; Jarno Syrjälä, under-secretary of state for international trade at the ministry for foreign affairs of Finland; and Mike Orgill, senior director of public policy and government relations of Uber’s APAC region are also expected.

The BIDA chairman acknowledged that Bangladesh still has work to do to improve the ease of doing business, particularly in energy supply and policy coordination.

“Energy supply is stabilising. LNG payment delays have been addressed and long-term gas contracts will ease pressure from 2026 onwards. We must guarantee pipeline gas for industrial use -- you can’t run factories on stove pressure.”

He also stressed the need to improve investor tracking.

“We need a pipeline of serious investors -- 30, 50, even 100 companies -- and a follow-up mechanism. Right now, we don’t have that basic foundation.”

The BIDA plans to build a real-time investment tracking system post-summit to monitor interest, engagement, and progress.

In terms of data transparency, Ashik admitted that current FDI figures often include reinvested earnings and working capital loans.

“We are reviewing this. What matters is fresh, high-quality capital. Revised investment numbers will be published by mid-April.”

The summit will end with a cultural showcase, highlighting Bangladesh through the lens of its artists, musicians, and creators.

“This is not just an event -- it’s the beginning of a new investment narrative for Bangladesh.”