The Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 and Best of Bangladesh Expo were held over three days from March 11–13 as part of the FBCCI’s business summit commemorating the federation’s 50th anniversary.
Day 1 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and included a Fireside Chat with her, as well as business panels and global insights on Bangladesh.
Day 2 featured plenary and parallel sessions on investment opportunities in key sectors, such as consumer goods, infrastructure, long-term finance, apparel and textile, energy security, and the digital economy.
Day 3 included sessions on circular economy, public-private partnerships, hi-tech and automobile manufacturing, economic zones, SMEs development, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, women’s participation in the smart economy, and tourism and blue economy.
FBCCI Business Excellence Awards
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) presented its inaugural Business Excellence Awards to 10 individuals and companies in recognition of their contributions to the economy. The award winners included Nazmul Hasan of Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Alihussain Akberali of BSRM, Mubarak Ali of Olympic Industries, Anjan Chowdhury of Square Food and Beverage Ltd, Md Kazim Uddin of National Life Insurance Co Ltd, Humayun Rashid of Energypac Power Generation Ltd, Md Rashedul Karim Munna of Creation Private Ltd, Safius Sami Alamgir of Tampaco Foils Ltd, Tania Wahab of Karigar, and Safwan Sobhan of Bashundhara Paper Mills Ltd and Bashundhara Multi Paper Industries Ltd. Two special awards were presented to Mahbubur Rahman and Maleka Khan, while lifetime achievement awards were given to Sabina Yasmin and Salman F Rahman. The Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said the government is committed to achieving knowledge-based industrialization and protecting the interests of industrial entrepreneurs.
Bangladesh to become a Trillion-dollar economy earlier than 2040
FBCCI President, Md Jashim Uddin, announced that Bangladesh’s economy will reach a trillion-dollar mark sooner than the predicted timeline of 2040 due to infrastructural developments, economic growth momentum, and local entrepreneurs’ confidence. He noted that despite facing numerous constraints, the economy has reached a size of $470 billion with a growth rate of 6.5-7%. The opening of the Padma Bridge is expected to boost the growth rate by 1.3%, and several mega-projects are currently underway. The statement was made at the Bangladesh Business Summit 2023, which aimed to showcase Bangladesh’s capabilities and potential to investors both locally and internationally.
Favorable policy needed for economic zones
Bangladesh needs favorable policies for economic zones to deliver as entrepreneurs call for better logistics and efficient one-stop service (OSS) platforms to cater to their needs. The government aims to establish 100 economic zones within 2030 and has already provided approvals for 97. Although the investment process for economic zones is easier, entrepreneurs are calling for long-term and low-cost financing to make investments. Furthermore, entrepreneurs suggest that dedicated laws be formulated to ensure seamless power in the zones and delivery of services without any delay. To meet the target of becoming a trillion-dollar economy, a strong supply chain is necessary, and in this regard, small and medium enterprises can be integrated to ensure backward linkage.x`
Ending of Bangladesh Business Summit 20223
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry is hosting the Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, in partnership with the foreign and commerce ministries and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). Ministers from seven countries, CEOs of 12 multinational companies, and over 200 foreign investors and business leaders from 17 countries are participating in the summit. FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin spoke at the closing session of the event.
FBCCI pleased with the response to Bangladesh Business Summit 2023
The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has expressed its satisfaction with the response to the Bangladesh Business Summit 2023. The FBCCI president said that the event had attracted the attention of global investors to Bangladesh’s potential, with more than 300 foreign entrepreneurs and 400 local entrepreneurs participating. The event saw several plenary sessions focusing on developing sustainable policies for different sectors, and several ministers, parliament members, business leaders, economists, and foreign delegations participated in different sessions.
