Indian, U.S. businesses show investment interest in Bangladesh, says Commerce Minister
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has said that businesses from India and the United States have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and have submitted proposals to improve the country's investment climate. The Minister's remarks came on Saturday (August 22, 2026) following a meeting at the Sylhet Metropolitan Police headquarters, as reported by the state-run BSS news agency.
Mr. Muktadir noted that some Indian businesspersons who recently visited Bangladesh have already made investments in the country. His statement follows a three-day visit by a 14-member Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) delegation from August 17 to 19, which aimed to explore opportunities for expanding bilateral trade, investment, and industrial cooperation.
According to the Minister, Indian business representatives expressed interest in making the land ports between India and Bangladesh fully operational. They argued that the closure or limited operation of these ports increases the cost of raw materials for Indian businesses. The delegation also proposed the creation of a task force with Bangladeshi businesses to invest in infrastructure, and a trust for developing digital infrastructure. Mr. Muktadir said the government has welcomed these proposals.
In addition, a U.S. trade delegation has shown similar interest in investing in Bangladesh and put forward several suggestions for creating a favourable investment climate. The Minister said the government is currently considering these proposals.
India is Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner in Asia, after China. Official data for the 2025-26 fiscal year (up to February) shows that India exported goods worth $9.73 billion to Bangladesh, while imports from Bangladesh stood at $1.62 billion, bringing bilateral trade to $11.35 billion during the period. Under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), India provides duty-free and quota-free market access to almost all Bangladeshi products.
Addressing Bangladesh's trade deficit, which currently exceeds $27 billion, Mr. Muktadir acknowledged that the country has imported more than it has exported since independence. However, he stressed the need to expand overall trade, stating, "We need to increase the overall volume of trade—both exports and imports—many times. The volume of trade should be commensurate with the size of our economy."
