Invest Bangladesh has published a public update on the 180-day investment plan unveiled on 16 March, reporting progress at the close of the plan period.
The update presents 20 initiatives across 14 of the 16 workstreams announced in March, organised under three pillars- robust infrastructure, investment facilitation, and investment development, said a press release on Tuesday.
The investment pipeline stands at $1.3 billion, with more than $400 million having reached the investment-decision or implementation stage. China leads at $0.6 billion, followed by the Middle East at $0.3 billion, the United States at $0.2 billion and South Korea at $0.1 billion. Renewable energy and ICT lead by sector at $0.3 billion each, followed by healthcare and textiles at $0.2 billion each. The figures describe prospective investments at different stages rather than funds already disbursed.
Groundbreaking has been completed for the $550 million Laldia Container Terminal, with APM Terminals targeting delivery in 2030. The terminal is expected to create more than 700 direct jobs and increase port capacity by 44 per cent. Groundbreaking has also been completed for the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone, with China Road and Bridge Corporation targeting completion by 2028. The zone has an expected investment pipeline of $1.3 billion, including an active pipeline of $500 million, and is projected to create more than 100,000 direct jobs.
Operations at Dhaka Airport’s Third Terminal are targeted to begin by the end of 2026. Planned cargo facilities would increase annual handling capacity from 200,000 to 500,000 tonnes, a 150 per cent increase, and are expected to support more than 6,000 direct jobs.
Chittagong Port has introduced round-the-clock port operations, customs clearance and banking services.
Bangladesh and South Korea have concluded their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, offering preferential access for 97 per cent of Bangladeshi goods, including duty-free access for 8,428 products.
The merger of BIDA, BEZA and the Public-Private Partnership Authority has brought investment promotion, economic zones and PPPs under one institution.
Invest Bangladesh Chairman Ashik Chowdhury said, “This plan is our contribution to the government’s vision of an investment-led economy, greater job creation and stronger local capability. We set out to improve the conditions in which investment happens: better infrastructure, more responsive services and a stronger pipeline of opportunities. Some changes are already in place; larger projects will take longer to deliver. We committed to report back after 180 days, and this update shows both the progress made and the work ahead.”
