MCCI, PEB hold Investment Climate Roundtable

Business Report :

The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) and Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB), with support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), on Monday launched an Investment Climate Roundtable titled “Path to Economic Turnaround: How Business Environment Fares and Priorities.”

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman attended the session as chief guest, while Shah Mohammad Mahboob, Executive Member of BIDA, and Ben Carson, Trade & Investment Commissioner of Austrade, were present as special guests. They stressed the need for regulatory reforms and stronger global partnerships to boost investor confidence, says a press release.
Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, delivered the keynote, underscoring the urgency of improving the investment climate and setting clear priorities for economic recovery.

Panelists included Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury, CEO of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh; Asif Ibrahim, Vice Chairman of Newage Group; and Doulot Akter Mala, President of ERF, who shared perspectives on the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities shaping Bangladesh’s economy.

Bangladesh has been grappling with macroeconomic strains since 2022, compounded by structural weaknesses such as low investment, limited export diversification, weak FDI inflows, and fragile logistics. Reform initiatives and governance measures introduced by the interim government in 2024 have, however, raised expectations of an economic rebound.

The Investment Climate Roundtable Series aims to foster dialogue on reforms, focusing on strengthening the investment climate to unlock the potential of both local and foreign private sector participation.

The session was also attended by senior representatives from government, industry, and the diplomatic community, including Debra Boyce, Senior Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission; Kazuiki Kataoka, Country Representative of JETRO; Ahmed Shaheen, Additional Managing Director of Eastern Bank Ltd; Shams Mahmud, Managing Director of Shasha Denims; Mehruna Chowdhury of UNDP; Hossain Sadat, Senior Director at Grameenphone; and Snehashish Barua, Managing Partner of SMAC.