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A business-friendly environment is being created where everyone can operate businesses smoothly and generate employment opportunities, says Prime Minister Tarique Rahman while also pledging investment-acceleration measures.
"We want to create opportunities for everyone to do business in a conducive environment and create jobs. The current budget has been prepared with that objective in mind," he told parliament Wednesday.
The Prime Minister says the government has undertaken a series of measures to simplify investment procedures and attract both local and foreign investors.
He made the remarks while responding to a question from Cumilla-10 lawmaker Md Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan during the question-answer session on the fourth day of the second session and first budget session of the 13th parliament. The sitting, which began at 3:00pm, was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram.
The Prime Minister notes that restoring economic discipline and fostering business-friendly environment are essential for building a stronger economy.
He mentions that import-and export-registration services are now being provided online within a shorter timeframe through the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports.
To strengthen the investment climate, the government has updated the export policy and is in the process of revising the Import Policy Order 2026-2029 to enable foreign investors to enter the market more easily.
The government has also taken steps to remove non-tariff barriers to imports for export-oriented industries. The scope of free-of-charge (FOC) imports is being expanded for both bonded and non-bonded enterprises.
Also, import-payment procedures are being simplified, while importers will be allowed to import goods through contractual arrangements without letters of credit (LCs), irrespective of value limits.
Bangladesh has also adopted trade-facilitation measures in line with international standards to ensure faster and more transparent trade processes through the implementation of World Trade Organisation agreements.
The Prime Minister further says the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority is implementing a range of policy and institutional reforms to attract domestic and foreign investment, improve the ease of doing business and accelerate industrialisation.
Among the key initiatives, the government has moved to integrate the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, Public-Private Partnership Authority and Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority to reduce institutional complexities and improve service delivery for investors.
To make Bangladesh a more attractive investment destination, the government has also initiated reforms to simplify capital-and profit- repatriation procedures.
At present, foreign investors often face delays and uncertainty in remitting capital and earnings abroad following share sales, business transfers or closures due to complex valuation requirements and extensive documentation.
A national committee on capital repatriation, formed in coordination with Bangladesh Bank, has reviewed the existing framework and prepared a package of reform proposals. It is now at the final stage of approval.
"The government has also launched a comprehensive overhaul of licensing and approval procedures to make investment processes faster, simpler and more predictable," adds the Prime Minister.
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