The High-Level Policy Dialogue, held as part of the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 in Dhaka, brought together the highest level of leadership to shape Bangladesh’s trade and investment path in the post-LDC era.
H.E. Mohammed Yunus, Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh opened the Summit, marking a pivotal moment for charting Bangladesh’s economic future.
The Dialogue titled “Navigating Global Markets – Bangladesh’s Trade and Investment Strategies in the Post-LDC Era” was jointly organized by Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and WAIPA, in close partnership with Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) & FBCCI, building on years of growing collaboration:
✅ Bangladesh was one of the 1st pilot countries in the initial EIF-WAIPA investment promotion project
✅ Bangladesh was among 8 nations selected for Phase II of the initiative focused on deeper institutional strengthening
Throughout the summit, speakers explored how Bangladesh can align its investment landscape with global best practices—through sectoral focus, smart zones, digitalization, sustainability & friendshoring.
During his keynote, Dr. Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director of EIF, outlined 4 key strategies to boost resilience in the post-graduation period:
🔸 Implementation of the Asia-Pacific Paperless Trade Agreement to cut trade time/costs by 29% and boost trade by 10%.
🔸 Enhancing productive capacity to climb the value chain and improve competitiveness.
🔸Concluding FTAs with Japan, Singapore, Korea—plus China and UAE—for greater market access and investment.
🔸Mobilizing domestic and foreign funds via better taxes, stronger FDI, and innovative finance like impact and blended models.
WAIPA Executive Director Ismail Ersahin emphasized Bangladesh’s shift toward smart, goal-driven investment promotion, powered by data & institutional reform & spotlighted 5 key advances:
🔸 Concierge-style services like BIDA’s Project Ambassador
🔸 Unified investment functions under one IPA
🔸Sectoral depth via a national semiconductor taskforce
🔸High-impact economic zones with global support
🔸Embracing friendshoring for resilient, strategic value chains
Dr. James Zhan, Chair of WAIPA’s WIC Executive Board, provided a forward-looking perspective on global FDI trends & value chains, underscoring the relevance of structural shifts that Bangladesh must navigate in its next phase of development.
The dialogue featured valuable contributions from The Ministry of Commerce, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, BTMA, MCCI, BUILD, FICCI, HSBC Bangladesh, et al.
As WAIPA’s Regional Director for South Asia, BIDA is increasingly recognized across the WAIPA community for its leadership in building a globally competitive & investor-friendly environment.
WAIPA is proud to support this journey & looks forward to deepening collaboration with EIF and BIDA as Bangladesh advances toward sustainable, inclusive, investment-led growth.
