Dhaka: The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has launched Bangladesh’s FDI Heatmap, a data-driven framework designed to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country. Focusing on 19 high-potential sectors, the heatmap aims to provide a strategic blueprint for future strategies and promotional activities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Ashik Chowdhury, the executive chairman of BIDA, emphasized that the FDI Heatmap is more than just a plan; it serves as the foundation for all future interactions with investors. He stated that every roadshow, bilateral investment treaty negotiation, or policy support initiative will be guided by this data-driven analysis from industry experts.
Nahian Rahman Rochi, BIDA’s Head of Business Development, noted that despite Bangladesh’s strong economic fundamentals, FDI contributions remain at only 0.5% of GDP, far below the global average of 3-4%. The heatmap aims to reverse this trend by leveraging a structured approach to prioritize sectors, identify high-potential investor markets, and align investment strategies with national goals.
The development of the FDI heatmap was facilitated by contributions from industry experts, including Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst and Young (EY), The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), International Finance Corporation (IFC), IDLC Finance PLC, LightCastle Partners, Inspira Advisory and Consulting Limited, the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
The heatmap identifies 19 sectors, categorizing them based on three key factors: market readiness and potential, input factor availability, and strategic alignment with national goals, including SDG and ESG priorities. The sectors include core apparel, pharmaceuticals (excluding API), agro-processing, IT-enabled services, advanced textiles and renewable energy, automotive parts, footwear, light engineering, leather, logistics, electronics and assembly, EV battery, medical devices, technical textiles, toys, active pharmaceutical ingredients, semiconductor, and plastic.
BIDA plans to operationalize the heatmap through a series of targeted activities aimed at maximizing its impact. These activities include identifying target markets and lead investors aligned with the priority sectors, showcasing the heatmap findings at international investment forums and roadshows, and establishing a public-private advisory council to address policy gaps and strengthen sector ecosystems. Furthermore, the heatmap will be reviewed and updated annually to ensure it remains responsive to evolving market dynamics.