Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday jointly hosted a workshop at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka, titled ‘Investment Diversification for Priority Sectors Post-LDC Graduation.’

The event presented insights from a groundbreaking study conducted by the South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA, attended the event as Chief Guest, sharing insights from his personal experiences with systemic inefficiencies and highlighting the challenges of regulatory bottlenecks in the investment landscape.

Ashik emphasized the pressing need for structural reforms to improve the investment climate, urging stakeholders to focus on quantified outcomes.

While the benchmark for improvement is low, the government’s clear intent and determination offer a significant opportunity to implement meaningful changes, he said.

As the Special Guest, Owais Parray, Senior Economic Advisor at UNDP Bangladesh, underscored the critical role of political stability, infrastructure, and human capital in fostering economic growth.

The keynote address by Selim Raihan, Professor of Economics at the University of Dhaka and Executive Director of SANEM, focused on opportunities in agro-processing, jute products, and IT-enabled services.

Raihan presented key findings, highlighting constraints like skill gaps, outdated technology, and regulatory challenges, and recommended targeted policy actions to unlock sectoral growth.

Shah Mohammad Mahboob, Executive Memberof BIDA, moderated the workshop.

Md Muzib-Ul-Ferdous, Director General of Local Investment Promotion, delivered the opening remarks, while Khandoker Azizul Islam, Secretary of BIDA, presided over the session.

The workshop provided a platform for policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss strategies to position Bangladesh as a competitive global investment destination post-LDC graduation.

Participants highlighted the importance of collaboration and swift policy actions to enhance the nation’s economic resilience and investment climate.