At the DSE Training Academy, a workshop titled 'Expanding RMG’s Financing Horizons: Opportunities in the Capital Market' was held, bringing together senior officials from leading RMG companies, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), and Swisscontact. The event aimed to discuss how the capital market can serve as a vital source of long-term financing for the RMG sector, moving beyond traditional bank financing.
Nuzhat Anwar, Managing Director of DSE, emphasized in her opening remarks that the capital market offers more than just investment opportunities; it is a crucial avenue for long-term financing that can drive economic growth and private-sector expansion. She stressed the need to expand financing opportunities through bonds and other instruments, not just IPOs or the equity market.
Anwar highlighted recent initiatives by the current commission and relevant stakeholders that have opened new opportunities for advancing the sector. She called for bridging the gap between the financing needs of the private sector and the capacity of the capital market, and for reviewing existing policy and regulatory constraints.
Farzana Amin, Swisscontact PROGRESS Project Team Leader, noted that Swisscontact has been supporting the development of the RMG sector for nearly two decades. She stressed the importance of considering capital-market-based financing alongside bank financing and announced plans to provide end-to-end support to RMG companies interested in participating in the capital market.
BKMEA Deputy Secretary Harunur Rashid pointed out that many Bangladeshi companies are still heavily reliant on bank financing, which often limits their ability to fully utilize their potential for business expansion. He suggested that the capital market could serve as an effective alternative source of long-term financing, helping companies expand, create jobs, and accelerate economic growth.
BMBA President and LankaBangla Investments CEO Iftekhar Alam discussed the process of listing potential issuers under new regulations, highlighting the benefits of raising long-term capital through IPOs. He also addressed the structural challenges in the capital market and various opportunities for raising equity capital.
DSE General Manager of the Market Development Division Saiyid Mahmud Zubayer presented an overview of the capital market, covering the prospects for business expansion through IPOs, QIOs, the SME platform, the bond market, direct listing, and other financing mechanisms. He highlighted how capital-market listing can help companies raise funds while improving corporate governance and institutional credibility.
