PRESS
RELEASE

Bangladesh’s net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows increased by 39.36% in 2025, reaching USD 1,770.42 million, compared with USD 1,270.39 million in 2024, according to Bangladesh Bank’s latest FDI survey. 

The increase was driven primarily by higher reinvested earnings and intra-company loans. Reinvested earnings rose by 318.25%, from USD 103.79 million in CY2024 to USD 434.10 million in CY2025, while intra-company loans increased by 25.68%, from USD 621.96 million to USD 781.68 million. Equity capital remained broadly stable, rising by 1.84%, from USD 544.64 million to USD 554.64 million. 

Bangladesh’s 2025 FDI performance has been noted as a recovery in the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report released on 28 April 2026. “Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bangladesh rose to $1.77 billion in 2025 after several difficult years marked by foreign‑exchange pressures, global shocks and domestic uncertainty,” said the report, while adding the rebound shows “that investors remain engaged even under tighter conditions” 

The increase was driven primarily by higher reinvested earnings and intra-company loans, indicating continued engagement by existing investors with Bangladesh. Reinvested earnings rose by 318.25%, from USD 103.79 million in CY2024 to USD 434.10 million in CY2025, while intra-company loans increased by 25.68%, from USD 621.96 million to USD 781.68 million. Equity capital also rose by 1.84%, from USD 544.64 million to USD 554.64 million, despite a weaker global new-investment environment in which greenfield project announcements declined by 16% in 2025.

BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury said: “We welcome our critics. Scrutiny helps us stay sharp and perform better. Globally, announcements of greenfield projects fell in 2025, and developing economies felt that pressure more sharply. Against that backdrop, Bangladesh’s 39.36% increase in net FDI is an encouraging signal. The absolute volume is still below our potential. But the direction matters, especially in a post-transition year. With current global conditions still uncertain, we are using this period to strengthen readiness so that when the tide turns, Bangladesh is better placed to compete for serious capital.” 

The Government’s continued commitment to improving ease of doing business, especially through deregulation and wider investment climate reforms, is expected to send investors an important signal: that Bangladesh is working to make it easier for businesses to invest, operate and expand, he added.  

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA) and the Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) are jointly implementing a 180-day action plan focused on infrastructure development, investment facilitation and investment development, with the aim of delivering core improvements to the business climate.

Reference:

1. Foreign Direct Investment and External Debt: July–December 2025, Bangladesh Bank (Dhaka).
https://www.bb.org.bd//pub/halfyearly/fdisurvey/foreign%20direct%20investment%20and%20external%20debt.pdf

2. UNCTAD, “Bangladesh investment reforms offer lessons for developing economies facing tougher FDI climate,” UNCTAD news release, 28 April 2026.
https://unctad.org/news/bangladesh-investment-reforms-offer-lessons-developing-economies-facing-tougher-fdi-climate?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

3. UNCTAD, “Global foreign investment up 14% in 2025, with growth concentrated in developed economies,” 20 January 2026.https://unctad.org/news/global-foreign-investment-14-2025-growth-concentrated-developed-economies