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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has stated that Bangladesh is open for business and ready for the future. He also referred to China as a ‘trusted friend’ and expressed Bangladesh’s interest in working with the country. To this end, he announced the imminent opening of Bangladesh’s first ‘investment office’ in China.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the ‘Bangladesh Investment Forum’ in Beijing, China, on Thursday (June 25) morning local time. Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, was present at the event.
Highlighting the multi-decade-long relationship between Bangladesh and China, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman described it as one built on ‘trust, respect, and practical cooperation.’ He noted that in recent years, this relationship has evolved from diplomacy to development, then to trade, and now to a deeper industrial partnership.
He stated that Bangladesh is undergoing a significant economic and administrative transformation, standing at a crucial juncture in its journey.
The Prime Minister explicitly declared, ‘Bangladesh is open for business, ready for the future, and eager to work with China, one of our oldest and most trusted friends.’
‘China is ascending the global value chain. Chinese companies are leading in advanced manufacturing, high-value infrastructure, and eco-friendly energy sectors. As China climbs the ladder of success, various components of its manufacturing system will seek new, competitive, and reliable locations. Bangladesh can be one of those locations,’ the Prime Minister added.
During the conference, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman invited Chinese companies to expand their value chains in Bangladesh. He expressed hope that this would help Chinese companies serve global markets while also benefiting from Bangladesh’s growing domestic demand.
Emphasizing that this would be a win-win relationship for both sides, the Prime Minister stated, ‘Words must be matched with structural actions. To demonstrate our commitment, my government has adopted a rigorous 180-day action plan to overhaul international capital-related procedures.’
Tarique Rahman further added, ‘Through this plan, we are directly confronting bureaucratic inertia. We are improving long-term policy consistency, reducing multiple regulatory processes, and digitizing government services to enhance transparency, predictability, and speed.’
The Prime Minister also assured foreign investors of non-discriminatory treatment, the repatriation of capital and dividends in accordance with Bangladeshi laws and regulations, and robust legal protections.
He mentioned the establishment of specialized industrial landing centers for Chinese investors, including the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Anwara and a second economic zone in Mongla. He explained that these locations provide logistics, port connectivity, services, workforce, suppliers, and a long-term ecosystem.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also stated that efforts are underway to improve the bilateral investment agreement with China, ensuring investors benefit from stronger confidence, clearer protections, and a more modern framework for investment.
In this regard, the Prime Minister noted, ‘BIDA, the top investment promotion agency, now has a specialized relationship management desk for Chinese investors. As you have seen, there is also a specialized website for Chinese investors, making it easier to find opportunities, incentives, and processes across various sectors.’
Announcing the imminent opening of Bangladesh’s first ‘investment office’ in China, the Prime Minister added, ‘Our objective is very simple. Chinese investors will not have to wait until they come to Bangladesh to receive assistance. We want to be closer to you, communicate with you more regularly, and help you accelerate the process from initial interest to final decision.’
Tarique Rahman also spoke about enhancing the broader investment infrastructure. He stated, ‘The government is set to launch a new license approval process, which will enable new businesses to commence operations in Bangladesh in less than 15 days.’
The Prime Minister also highlighted the announcement of sector-specific incentives and policy benefits in the budget for priority sectors such as renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, electronics, digital infrastructure, agro-processing, and advanced textiles.
He informed the conference that the purpose of these measures is to ensure that investors and businesses can engage with Bangladesh more easily, with confidence and transparency.
Inviting China to partner in scripting the next ‘Asian economic miracle,’ the Prime Minister said, ‘Many Chinese investors are already operating in Bangladesh. They can attest to our people, our resilience, and our potential. They can tell you that Bangladesh can succeed.’
Tarique Rahman also expressed determination to transform the opportunities in the region into long-term sustainable growth, economic development, and mutual prosperity for both Bangladesh and China.