Bangladesh on Tuesday launched a new platform to strengthen supply chains and build a more sustainable trade and investment environment as the country prepares for its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
According to a joint press release from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ministry of Commerce, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the “Resilient Supply Chains for Sustainable Trade and Investments Platform” was introduced at the BIDA auditorium.
Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi was the chief guest at the launch.
“Bangladesh’s graduation from LDC status is a chance to build a new kind of competitiveness, one based on value, skills, quality and fairness,” he said in his virtual address.
He said the platform connects government, the private sector and development partners to shape the next chapter of the economy.
In his opening remarks, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said the authorities must set a clear roadmap and hold themselves accountable so that progress is measurable by the end of 2026.
“This platform is about real progress, not just conversation,” he said. Ministry of Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said Bangladesh is advancing regulatory reforms and aligning its trade and investment policies with global standards as part of its transition.
The goal, he said, is to create a more competitive environment for domestic and cross-border investment that supports sustainable growth and decent work.
ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tuñón said supply chains are built on people, from workers to entrepreneurs.
“The platform offers an opportunity to design solutions that place dignity and opportunity at the centre,” he said.
Such an approach, he added, can make a meaningful difference in daily lives as Bangladesh moves beyond LDC status.
UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Stefan Liller said the platform will help pool efforts to make future growth greener and more inclusive.
It will act as a hub for collaboration and knowledge sharing while helping align investment, production and trade with environmental sustainability and social safeguards, he expects.
The UN agencies expressed appreciation for their partnership with BIDA and the commerce ministry. They called on more actors, including other UN agencies, to join the platform.
They also acknowledged support from the country’s development partners, including Team Europe and Global Affairs Canada.
According to the press release, the platform will serve as a centre for policy dialogue, capacity building and knowledge sharing.
It will promote policy coherence, supply chain development and public–private partnerships. It will also support Bangladesh’s graduation efforts by reinforcing international labour standards, inclusive growth and decent work.
