The government has noted tangible progress in streamlining investment and trade processes, citing improved inter-agency coordination and faster decision-making as primary drivers of economic competitiveness.
These updates were presented on Thursday during the seventh meeting of the Investment Coordination Committee, held at the chief adviser’s office in Tejgaon.
Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, who chairs the committee, emphasised that while the government has limited control over external factors like tariffs, it maintains full control over internal policies.
“Efficiency gains here are immediate, tangible, and substantial,” he stated, noting that such improvements significantly strengthen competitiveness and directly impact livelihoods.
The high-level meeting was attended by Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of BIDA, BEZA, and the PPP Authority, and Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, alongside various ministry secretaries and agency heads.
The committee discussed several major proposals, including a tenfold increase in pre-arrival customs clearance, a unified online business start-up package, and a fully automated bond management system. Additionally, 24-hour digital payment services have been proposed for Chittagong Port.
Officials also agreed on a new multi-agency mechanism designed to ensure that approved investment proposals are successfully translated into actual investments.
The committee reviewed recent successes, notably the National Single Window (NSW). Launched by the National Board of Revenue after years of delay, the NSW has already eliminated an estimated 1.2 million physical visits to government offices in just a few months.
Furthermore, automated truck entry systems at Chittagong Port have reduced entry times by at least 90%, while digital tracking and cashless payments have enhanced transparency.
Investment promotion agencies – including BIDA, BEZA, BEPZA, and the High Tech Park Authority – are now jointly monitoring investment pipelines. Following recent outreach missions to China, Turkey, and South Korea, officials reported a record number of land lease agreements and confirmed investment activations.
Despite these advancements, the committee flagged persistent challenges, such as offices continuing to run parallel offline processes despite having digital systems in place.
Siddiqi highlighted the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) as a best-practice model for its digital-only application and payment system. To assist users in transitioning to online platforms, the Chittagong Port Authority has introduced a similar “agent desk”.
Immediate priorities include the launch of the first version of the Bangladesh Business Portal by BIDA and a pilot of the Automated Risk Management System (ARMS) at Chittagong Customs House to reduce physical cargo inspections.
Siddiqi stressed the urgency of expanding pre-arrival clearance, noting that while rules are in place, disciplined implementation is lacking. “It is unacceptable that less than 5% of cargo is pre-cleared when the figure should exceed 50%,” he said.
Participants praised the committee’s data-driven format, describing it as a “stylistic reform” in government operations that prioritises execution and measurable outcomes.
