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The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has urged Korean investors to leverage Bangladesh's dynamic investment landscape, highlighting the country's strategic advantages and ongoing pro-business reforms aimed at facilitating foreign direct investment (FDI).
At an investment seminar titled 'Gateway to Growth: Invest in Bangladesh', held at a hotel in Seoul on Tuesday, a high-level delegation led by Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BIDA, engaged with more than 150 Korean business leaders, industry representatives, and development partners to showcase strategic investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
"This is the most opportune moment for Korean businesses to align with Bangladesh's growth trajectory," said Mr. Chowdhury in his keynote address.
"Our government has implemented comprehensive reforms to ensure seamless entry, operation, and expansion for foreign enterprises. We welcome Korean investors to explore Bangladesh as their next growth destination."
Ashik Chowdhury also assured full institutional support for Korean investors looking to establish or expand their businesses in Bangladesh.
Organised in collaboration with
The Embassy of Bangladesh in the Republic of Korea organised the event in collaboration with the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group.
South Korea currently stands as the fifth-largest foreign investor in Bangladesh, with a cumulative FDI stock of $1.56 billion spread across more than 150 Korean companies operating in sectors ranging from textiles and footwear to electronics and automobiles.
In a detailed presentation, Nahian Rahman Rochi, Head of Business Development at BIDA, highlighted investment opportunities in textiles, electronics, automotive manufacturing, and renewable energy.
He underscored Bangladesh's young workforce, macroeconomic resilience, and improving infrastructure as key factors driving investor confidence.
"There has never been a better time to enter Bangladesh," he said, drawing parallels between Bangladesh's current economic momentum and South Korea's transformation in the 1980s.
"With stable inflation, export growth, and a business-friendly policy regime, investors can expect high returns supported by BIDA's full-spectrum One Stop Service platform."
Executives from Korean companies already operating in Bangladesh shared positive experiences.
Min-Suhk Lee, President of Youngone Corporation, highlighted the company's four-decade journey in Bangladesh, where it has invested over $600 million and employs more than 30,000 workers.
Youngone's success, he said, exemplifies Bangladesh's growing competitiveness as a manufacturing hub.
He also emphasised the company's social and environmental commitments that have positioned it among the most responsible corporates in the country.
Toufiq Islam Shatil, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Republic of Korea, and Chang-beom Kim, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), also spoke.
The seminar is part of a broader five-day strategic mission to Korea, led by Ashik Chowdhury. Senior officials from BIDA, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and representatives from the banking sector joined the mission.
The BIDA delegation is scheduled to hold a series of G2G and G2B meetings with Korean parliamentarians and top corporate leaders during the mission. The delegation will also participate in a special roundtable with members of the Korean business diaspora and academia.
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