PRESS
RELEASE

BIDA, BEZA and PPPA Are Now Invest Bangladesh

Invest Bangladesh began operations today, the first working day following publication of the gazette notification under the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026.

Formed through the merger of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), Invest Bangladesh is now the country’s apex investment promotion agency, operating under the Prime Minister’s Office. Its new brand identity was also unveiled today, marking its transition to one national investment platform. 

The new authority brings investment facilitation, policy coordination, economic zone development and public-private partnership capability into one institution, giving domestic and international investors a single point of access to opportunities across Bangladesh. The creation of a unified landing point responds to a longstanding call from investors and partners for a simpler, more coordinated way to engage with the government on investment services, facilities and policies.

“This is more than an institutional merger. It is about organising the government more effectively around the investor,” said Ashik Chowdhury, Chairman of Invest Bangladesh . By uniting our capabilities, we aim to provide clearer accountability and more coordinated support across the investment journey. We will continue to respect our heritage while forging new chapters as a bigger and stronger team.”

The Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026 provides the foundation for a more integrated national investment system. Among its key provisions, the Act creates scope to:

• bring economic zones, free-trade zones and other declared industrial areas under an integrated framework;
• define procedures and timelines for licences, approvals and government services;
• establish clearer approval frameworks for public-private partnerships, including simpler routes for small PPP projects;
• put underused government land, facilities, shares and rights to productive use; and
• bring investment and business services onto a single digital platform.

Invest Bangladesh will support investors in navigating approvals, accessing investment-ready locations and addressing barriers to growth. It will also continue to operate BanglaBiz, Bangladesh’s single digital platform for investment services, providing online, time-bound access to business licences and permits.

The new authority is working to implement the 14-day business licensing framework—a key step towards implementing the government's commitment to establish a faster, more predictable business climate. With the 180-day period now nearing its end, the agency will publish a progress report on delivery against the commitments made in March before the period concludes. 

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1. How will investors benefit?

Investors will receive simpler, faster and more coordinated access to approvals, registrations, import-export services, incentives, industrial zones and other government services. The Act also allows procedures and timelines to be defined for licences, approvals and service delivery.

2. What new opportunities does the Act create?

The Act creates scope to bring economic zones, free-trade zones and other declared industrial areas under an integrated framework. It also enables underused government land, facilities, shares and rights to be put to productive use, while providing clearer approval frameworks for PPP projects, including simpler routes for smaller projects.

3. What happens to existing investor services?

Existing investor services will continue under Invest Bangladesh. The merger is an institutional integration designed to make the investor journey smoother and create a single front office, with more coordinated support across the investment lifecycle.

4. How will investment services be digitised?

The Act provides for investment and business services to be brought onto a single digital platform. This will support single-window clearance, one-stop services and the online processing of business licences and approvals.

5. Will Invest Bangladesh facilitate projects both inside and outside economic zones?

Economic zones will remain the priority because they enable more efficient delivery of utilities and access to transport networks. Invest Bangladesh will also facilitate projects outside economic zones, including through unused state assets, depending on the type of project and the investor’s needs.

6. What happens to the workforce?

Regular officers and employees of BIDA, BEZA and PPPA will be absorbed into Invest Bangladesh in equivalent positions, with continuity of service and existing benefits protected. Consultants, outsourced personnel and daily-wage workers will continue under their existing contracts or orders.