State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday said the government has intensified its efforts and is trying to bring in the foreign investment the country needs to achieve the goal of elevating Bangladesh to a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.
“Lots of countries are already talking to us about how they can invest in different sectors. So, that is an ongoing discussion. Many investors are already contacting BIDA (Bangladesh Investment Development Authority), working with them, working with the Commerce Ministry,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noting that China, Japan, America, and different countries are ready for investment and that they are having these investment talks.
The State Minister briefed the reporters after a closed-door roundtable on “Roadmap for Trade, Growth and Economic Diplomacy-2026: The Capital Dialogue” held in the afternoon at the Ministry.
Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, among others, joined the roundtable discussion.
Responding to a question, Shama Obaed said the blue economy is one of the priorities and Bangladesh wants investment in this promising sector. “We want our various European countries to invest in the blue economy.”
She said there are many opportunities in Bangladesh, especially in the blue economy. “So, we will basically hold more of these kinds of roundtables so that we can put the problems on the table and move towards solving them.”
The government is developing a new economic model to navigate the current financial crisis, with a target of elevating Bangladesh to a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034, focusing on investment growth, administrative reform, industrial revival, and long-term agricultural transformation.
Shama Obaed said the Foreign Ministry is giving great emphasis to economic diplomacy in line with its manifesto, and the closed-door session was held as part of that, where various problems and solutions were discussed.
She said efforts are underway to bring the economy back on track and transform it into a vibrant economy.
The first ‘Bangladesh Trade and Investment Conference 2026’ was held in Dhaka on June 13, where Bangladesh’s evolving trade, investment, and economic priorities were discussed.
The initiative came as Bangladesh prepares for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and advances negotiations on several bilateral trade and investment agreements while seeking to strengthen foreign direct investment and economic resilience.
The conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) under the theme “Navigating Risks – Unlocking Resilience.”
The single-day event brought together senior government ministers and advisers, Heads of Mission accredited to Dhaka, representatives of multilateral development institutions, business leaders, and private sector stakeholders to discuss Bangladesh’s evolving trade, investment, and economic priorities.
The conference featured plenary discussions and roundtable sessions focusing on trade and investment policy, financing and capital mobilisation, market access, industrial competitiveness, artificial intelligence, creative industries, and sports.