Now Reading: Indian, US firms keen to invest in Bangladesh, says minister
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Indian, US firms keen to invest in Bangladesh, says minister
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has said businesses from India and the United States have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and have made proposals to improve the investment climate. His remarks…
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has said businesses from India and the United States have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and have made proposals to improve the investment climate. His remarks on Saturday came after a meeting at the Sylhet Metropolitan Police headquarters.
Muktadir said some Indian businesspeople who recently visited Bangladesh have already invested. A 14-member Confederation of Indian Industry delegation visited Bangladesh from August 17 to 19 to explore trade and investment opportunities. Indian businesses have proposed making land ports fully operational and setting up a task force and a trust for infrastructure and digital development. A US trade delegation has also proposed steps to create a favourable investment climate, which the government is considering.
India is Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner in Asia. Bilateral trade stood at $11.35 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year till February, with Indian exports of $9.73 billion and imports from Bangladesh at $1.62 billion. Muktadir stressed the need to expand overall trade to match the size of the economy.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Bangladesh is courting foreign investment amid a widening trade deficit that exceeds $27 billion. India already offers duty-free access to almost all Bangladeshi products under the South Asian Free Trade Area, yet the trade gap remains heavily in India's favour. The proposals from Indian and US businesses signal interest in sectors such as infrastructure and digital services, which could help Bangladesh diversify its economy beyond readymade garments. The government's response to these proposals will be a key indicator of its reform appetite. Watch for concrete follow-up, including any task force formation or land-port operational changes in the coming months.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
