Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI), in collaboration with Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB) and supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), inaugurated the Investment Climate Roundtable under the theme “Path to Economic Turnaround: How Business Environment Fares and Priorities.”
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman attended the session as chief guest, while Shah Mohammad Mahboob, executive member of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), and Ben Carson, Trade & Investment Commissioner of Austrade, joined as special guests. They underscored the urgency of regulatory reforms and stronger global partnerships to bolster investor confidence.
In his keynote, Masrur Reaz, chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, stressed the need for immediate improvements in the business climate and the prioritization of investment sectors to accelerate recovery.
Panel discussions featured insights from Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury, CEO of Lafarge-Holcim Bangladesh; Asif Ibrahim, vice chairman of Newage Group; and Doulot Akter Mala, president of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF). Speakers highlighted both persistent challenges—such as weak FDI inflows, low investment, and fragile logistics—and the opportunities for reform-driven growth. Bangladesh’s economy has grappled with macroeconomic headwinds since 2022, driven by structural bottlenecks and compounded by global pressures. However, since the interim government took office in 2024, governance and reform measures have sparked renewed optimism for recovery.
The Roundtable Series is designed to encourage dialogue on reforms essential for strengthening the investment climate and unlocking the full potential of both domestic and foreign private sector participation. The event drew participation from prominent stakeholders, including Debra Boyce, Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission; Kazuiki Kataoka, country representative of JETRO; Ahmed Shaheen, Additional Managing Director of Eastern Bank Ltd.; Shams Mahmud, Managing Director of Shasha Denims; Mehruna Chowdhury of UNDP; Hossain Sadat, Senior Director at Grameenphone; and Snehashish Barua, Managing Partner of SMAC, alongside other senior representatives from government, industry, and the diplomatic community.
