The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) has urged the Government to build investor confidence by ensuring the effective implementation of policy reforms.
Speaking at a luncheon meeting hosted by AmCham at the InterContinental Dhaka on Sunday, AmCham President Syed Mohammad Kamal highlighted the strong potential for increased US investment in Bangladesh, particularly in emerging and technology-driven sectors, reads a press release.
He emphasised that while Bangladesh possesses many of the fundamentals investors seek, the consistent implementation of policy reforms is critical to converting this potential into sustained investor confidence and actual investment.
“There is a need to translate reform momentum into predictable and tangible outcomes,” Kamal said, underscoring that such steps would help strengthen Bangladesh’s position as a preferred destination for US investment, technology, and trade in South Asia.
The luncheon, titled “Building Investors’ Confidence: From Policy Reform to Effective Implementation”, brought together senior government officials, policymakers, business leaders, investors, and AmCham members for a constructive dialogue on strengthening Bangladesh’s investment climate.
The event was supported by Chevron Bangladesh, HSBC, Transcom Group, and VISA.
Addressing the gathering, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, outlined the Government’s efforts to foster a more conducive business environment by reducing regulatory barriers and improving the ease of doing business.
The finance minister highlighted ongoing deregulation initiatives and mechanisms for businesses to raise concerns about regulatory bottlenecks.
On the issue of taxation, Khosru noted that reforms are underway to build a more efficient and transparent framework through greater expertise and automation. He also emphasised efforts to streamline port and customs procedures to facilitate trade and investment.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to engaging with the private sector, the finance minister stressed that policy predictability and consistency are essential to strengthening investor confidence and supporting sustainable investment.
Also speaking at the event, HSBC Chief Executive Officer Md Mahbub ur Rahman emphasised that investor confidence depends on the security and stability of capital, underpinned by a predictable and transparent business environment.
He stressed the importance of building on Bangladesh’s competitive strengths, noting that facilitating trade would help attract greater domestic and foreign investment.
The luncheon concluded with an interactive Q&A session, moderated by AmCham president, providing business community members with an opportunity to exchange views with the finance minister on Bangladesh’s economic outlook and key policy priorities.
The discussion touched on revenue mobilisation, private investment, and the broader regulatory environment, including the need for greater access to capital for startups and emerging businesses.
In response, the finance minister emphasised the Government’s focus on benchmarking compliant businesses, ensuring tax obligations are met, and accelerating the full automation of the taxation system to reduce corruption and improve efficiency.
