Bangladesh could attract significant investments and create millions of jobs by implementing essential reforms across four sectors, according to a World Bank Group report released today at the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025.
The new Bangladesh Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) report has聽 highlighted that with聽 targeted policy actions, Bangladesh could create 2.37 million jobs annually in the construction聽 industry by supporting the construction of new housing units, generate over 664,000 formal jobs by expanding domestic paint and dye production, and create between 96,000 to 460,000 new jobs through digital financial services reforms.
The report identifies four sectors-green ready-made garments (RMG), housing for middle-income families, paint and dyes, and digital financial services where policy actions can help remove barriers to private investment. The report outlines specific, near-term steps the government can take to attract investment in these sectors, generate jobs, remain competitive after graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, and strengthen the domestic economy.
World Bank Group on Tuesday launched the report at an event at InterContinental Hotel in the city.
In the report, World Bank Group laid emphasis on upgrading production in the readymade garments sector to comply with El requirements, focusing on greening, sustainability and labour standards.
The group urged the authorities concerned to strengthen the regulatory framework for digital mapping and property registration to improve access to mortgages by ensuring properties are valued at market rates rather than outdated tax-assessed values.
聽They called for digitizing customs classifications on imported inputs for paint and dyes to expedite clearance, enabling businesses to more easily comply with custom regulations.
聽They also laid emphasis on establishing protocols to enable mobile financial services for merchant wallets with higher transaction limits, facilitating wholesale transactions and making digital payments more accessible for businesses.
聽鈥楾he World Bank Group鈥檚 Bindings offer valuable guidance for shaping policies and strategies that promote private sector led growth. The interim government is dedicated to fostering growth by creating a more conducive business environment and supporting emerging industries, ultimately leading to job creation,鈥� said Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
With new and emerging challenges, Bangladesh needs urgent and transformative policy and institutional reforms to help firms expand domestically and compete globally and create millions of jobs for its youth entering the labor market every year, said Gayle Martin, World Bank Interim Country Director for Bangladesh.
鈥楾his Country Private Sector Diagnostic recommends concrete policy actions to overcome barriers to private sector growth and job creation in the country. The World Bank Group stands ready to collaborate with the government and all stakeholders to help Bangladesh stay on strong and inclusive growth path,鈥� she added.
鈥楢s part of the World Bank Group, IFC is committed to supporting Bangladesh to strengthen its private sector and drive economic growth,鈥� said Martin Holtmann, Country Manager IFC, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal.
聽鈥楾he CPSD provides a strategic roadmap, identifying sectors and the key reforms needed to enhance their competitiveness and attract investment by working together, we can create opportunities to improve the livelihoods of the people of Bangladesh, to accelerate sustainable economic development,鈥� he added.
The Bangladesh CPSD launch was followed by a panel discussion on the report鈥檚 findings by Lutfey Siddiqi, chief adviser鈥檚 envoy for international affairs, and Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of BIDA, as well as private sector leaders, including Arun Mitra, head of operations Nippon Paint, Kamal Quadir, CED, bKash, Selim RF Hussain, managing director, BRAC Bank, Sharif Zahir, managing director, Ananta Group and Srabanti Datta, managing director, ABC Real Estate.
