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Those include simplifying business registration and land acquisition, expanding digital infrastructure in rural areas, reforming the banking sector to improve credit access and reduce non-performing loans, strengthening environmental compliance with technical and financial support, and focusing on consistent implementation of existing reforms rather than introducing new ones.

On reforms, it said, “Reform initiatives, even if incremental, render a positive impact on the investment climate,” citing improvements in tax and finance as evidence.

However, the report said that without deeper structural reforms, the country’s competitiveness, especially as it graduates from least developed country (LDC) status in November 2026, will be at risk.

Among others, Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI); Kazuiki Kataoka, country representative of Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro); and Rupali Chowdhury, managing director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, were also present.