The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM), has called for active cooperation from stakeholders in Sylhet to build a comprehensive database of industries and identify new investment opportunities in the region. The call was made during a divisional workshop on the Survey of Industries in Bangladesh, held at Rose View Hotel in Sylhet.
The workshop, aimed at collecting and verifying field-level information on industries, investment challenges, and potential sectors, highlighted the need for a reliable industrial database to support effective policymaking and investment promotion. The survey is funded by ADB and receives technical support from SANEM.
ADB Bangladesh Public Sector Economist Tasnim Alam emphasized the importance of increased investment as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. He stressed the need for a clear transition roadmap, higher investment, and greater private-sector participation, citing Sylhet's tourism sector as a significant growth area.
SANEM Executive Director Dr. Selim Raihan noted that the survey would help identify investor challenges and provide a reliable database to support both investors and policymakers. The survey will verify industrial distribution through a full census of foreign-owned and joint-venture firms and a representative survey of domestic enterprises.
BIDA Director General Jibon Krishna Saha Roy highlighted the survey's importance in addressing the country's longstanding shortage of a reliable national industrial database. He stressed the need for proactive planning ahead of LDC graduation, strengthening BIDA's One Stop Service (OSS), and ensuring balanced investment distribution.
