Bangladesh most investment-friendly in South Asia: Kamal

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has called upon foreign investors to take investment opportunities in Bangladesh saying that Bangladesh is the most investment-friendly country in South Asia.

Bangladesh government has created a scope of making more profits with providing lucrative incentives, Kamal also said while Norweigian Ambassador Espen Rikter‐Svendsen made a courtesy call on him on Thursday.

“Bangladesh is a country of huge opportunity. There is no possibility of incurring losses after investing here,” he assured potential foreign investors.

Foreign investment and loans are very important for the country’s development activities and achieving SDGs, he pointed out.

In this context, Norway as a potential development partner can invest in key areas of power, energy, ship making and repairing, water resources, river dredging, ICT, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and communications, Kamal told the Norwegian envoy.

“I visited Bangladesh 10 years ago, but the Bangladesh and today’s Bangladesh is not the same,” Espen Rikter‐Svendsen said.

“Bangladesh has made much progress. It is clearly ahead of many south Asian countries in terms of poverty reduction, women empowerment and many other areas,” he added.

He said there is ample scope of Norway’s assistance in Bangladesh’s development. He also hoped that relations between the two countries will be more consolidated by tapping that opportunity, he remarked.

During the meeting held virtually, they discussed important issues of trade-investment, 8th Five-year plan, ease of doing business, steps taken in financial sectors, improving bilateral relations, education-culture and socio-economic development in Bangladesh.

Since Bangladesh’s independence, Norway has been an important development partner. Now, it is providing financial support in various development sector.

Norway has already invested in some important sectors like power and energy, environment, good governance, gender, human rights, culture, education and private sector development.

From 1971 to 2018, Norway provided $8.19 million food support and $182.91 million goods support and $582.44 million project assistance.