As Bangladesh prepares for the upcoming national budget, the business community expects a pragmatic, investment-friendly and export-oriented policy framework that can help restore economic momentum.
We understand that the current government has inherited a challenging economic situation amid global uncertainty and geopolitical instability. However, it is also true that the expectations from this government remain very high.
At this stage, investors are primarily looking for ease of doing business, good governance and a predictable business environment. If these can be ensured, investment and industrial expansion will naturally follow.
The packaging industry is one of Bangladesh’s most important industrial backward linkage sectors. From food, pharmaceuticals and FMCG products to agriculture and exports – packaging serves as the invisible backbone of modern consumption and manufacturing.
Today, the sector supports thousands of jobs and plays a critical role in controlling product safety, competitiveness and inflation.
We are grateful that the government has declared paper and packaging as the ‘Product of the Year 2026’. Now, this recognition should be translated into effective policy support.
The upcoming budget should consider rationalising dual AIT burdens at both import and supply stages, simplifying duty drawback procedures, introducing deemed export facilities, supporting sustainable mono-material packaging by lowering unreasonable import duties and expanding export-oriented policy support beyond traditional sectors.
Bangladesh has enormous industrial potential. With the right policy support, our entrepreneurs are ready to deliver.
The writer is President, Bangladesh Flexible Packaging Industries Association (BFPIA) & Managing Director, Tampaco Group
