Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum in Dhaka in September

The first-ever Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum will be held in Dhaka on September 13-14 aiming to foster partnerships, promote innovation and explore avenues for sustainable and inclusive economic development for Bangladesh. 

The event is being organised by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) in partnership with Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Zi Foundation.

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The council briefed the media in this regard at InterContinental Dhaka yesterday.

"When Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth, the country was in its infant stage struggling with a war-torn economy and a ravaged infrastructure due to the aftermath of the Liberation War," said Salman F Rahman, the prime minister's private industry and investment adviser.

"Over time, Bangladesh attained tremendous development on its economic fronts," he said.

"Bangladesh is graduating into a middle-income country in 2026. This achievement became possible with immense hard work by the nation, along with support from its development partners like the Commonwealth members," he said.

"Some of the largest trade partners of Bangladesh are Commonwealth members,'' he added.

''The Commonwealth is an amazing opportunity for Bangladeshi companies to explore – 56 countries of untapped potential and limitless possibilities,'' said Lord Swire, deputy chairman of the CWEIC.

"The Commonwealth must address the vulnerabilities of least developed countries (LDC), landlocked developing countries, sudden infant death syndrome and countries with special needs," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam.

It must focus on areas such as the continuation of their trade-related generalised system of preferences beyond LDC graduation, private capital flows and flexible financing for green technology transfer, he said.

"Bida is delighted to be an official partner of CTIF - happening for the first time in Bangladesh. For us, it is a deeply significant and exciting opportunity," said Lokman Hossain Miah, executive chairman of Bida.

"As the country's apex investment promotion agency, Bida will take full advantage of the opportunities that this forum will create. We will also seamlessly deliver investment services to businesses that are interested to explore opportunities in Bangladesh,'' he said.

Heads of the states and political and business leaders of the Commonwealth members will be attending the forum this year, said Zillur Hussain, strategic advisor for Bangladesh of the CWEIC.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 countries, home to one-third of the world's population. Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth as its 34th member in 1972.

The forum was previously organised in other member states of the Commonwealth such in the UK, Singapore, Kenya, Rwanda and Malta.