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In a push to stimulate investment, the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2025–26 has earmarked Tk 50.4 billion for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
In his Tk 7.9 trillion budget presentation on Monday, Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed said investment in the private sector calls for a proper environment.
“So, we are trying to identify the existing obstacles in the way of investment and find out about them as soon as possible,” he said, adding that foreign investors have lined up to finance the private sector, according to bdnews24.com.
“We are also paying special attention to encouraging the implementation of investment projects through public-private partnerships in regions with potential in the country. I am proposing to allocate Tk 50.4 billion in the fiscal year.
He said, “Currently, 134 services of 43 organisations are being provided through the one-stop portal to provide quick and easy services to investors.
“Besides, Bangladesh Single Window has been opened under the National Revenue Board (NBR) to provide a one-stop platform to submit applications, process and provide services to improve business environment.”
The budget for FY2011 proposed an allocation of Tk 30 billion in the sector, while FY2019 presented an allocation of Tk 38.09 billion.
In September 2015, Matia Chowdhury, then in charge of the Prime Minister's Office for Parliamentary Affairs, tabled the Bangladesh Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Bill-2015, which was passed by voice vote in parliament.
The government had then said that this law was to ‘accelerate the development of the economy’ of the country and to provide a legal framework for PPP.
The Policy and Strategy for Public-Private Partnership (PPP), 2010 was formulated to implement public-private collaborative initiatives to accelerate the economic development of Bangladesh.
Most recently, in April this year, about 450 foreign investors participated in a four-day investment conference. The conference was officially inaugurated by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.