ADB exposes vistas of business prospects, here and beyond

Wide vistas of business opportunities in Bangladesh and beyond were unveiled at an exposition hosted Monday in Dhaka by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The organisers said the business opportunities seminar (BOS) provided a platform for accessing information on a wide range of ongoing and upcoming opportunities within ADB-financed projects and ADB private-sector operations.

Over 500 participants from suppliers, contractors, and consultants, government officials, representatives of development partners and members of the diplomatic corps attended the daylong programme.

Md. Ehsanul Hoque, Senior Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Division, inaugurated the event. Various stakeholders, such as members from the Bangladesh Association of Consulting Engineers and Architects (BACEA), Bangladesh Association of Construction Industry (BACI), and Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI), were also present.

In his speech, Ehsanul Hoque said the ADB has doubled the development allocations in Bangladesh.

"We are looking to further improvement in procurement for more transparency and efficiency," the official told the business-exposition meet.

Mr. Jesper Pedersen, Director, Procurement, Portfolio, and Financial Management Department of the ADB, in his keynote address highlighted ADB efforts to enhance its procedures to better meet the growing and evolving needs of developing member-countries, with a strong focus on sustainability, transparency and quality in procurement.

"ADB underscores higher skills and efficiency for accelerated project implementation as Bangladesh diversifies its economy, implements reforms to drive economic transformation, and graduates from the least- developed country status in 2026," said Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong.

"We are working with stakeholders to reduce procurement time while ensuring economy, efficiency, fairness, transparency, quality, and value for money."

In line with ADB's strategic direction on expanding private-sector operations, he said they are also promoting private-sector business opportunities.

The Asian bank reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth of local industries, noting that Bangladeshi contractors and consultants have consistently demonstrated success in securing contracts both domestically and internationally.

As ADB operations are projected to expand in the coming years, these opportunities are expected to grow further.

In its 52-year partnership with Bangladesh, the Manila-headquartered ADB has mobilized over $62 billion in loans and grants, including cofinancing, to improve infrastructure, public services, and social development for the country's people. ADB's current sovereign portfolio in Bangladesh has 51 projects and programmes worth over $12 billion.

It is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, the ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard the planet. Founded in 1966, the ADB is owned by 69 members, 49 from the region.

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