'Bangladesh Day' in Beijing: conference on direct Chinese bank operations and wider financing opportunities
'Bangladesh Day' has been held in China's capital Beijing with a message of opening direct operations by Chinese banks in Bangladesh and new fields of investment financing.
The special conference was jointly organised by the Export-Import Bank of China and Invest Bangladesh at the Exim Bank of China's head office. Invest Bangladesh announced the information in a statement it issued.
Policymakers from 11 of China's leading financial institutions and 26 influential industrial companies from various sectors took part. Among the financial institutions attending were three of the world's top four banks by assets — the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China and the Bank of China.
Representatives were also present from infrastructure and engineering, power and renewable energy, information technology, consumer and smart electronics, industrial technology, environmentally friendly technology and agricultural product processing sectors.
Invest Bangladesh chairman Ashik Chowdhury attended the conference as chief guest. Speakers also included China Exim Bank vice president Wang Kang and Bangladesh's ambassador to China, Md Nazmul Islam.
At the conference, Bangladesh Bank and Invest Bangladesh jointly presented a paper titled 'The Next Frontier: Bangladesh-China Financial Connectivity'. It noted that bilateral trade between the two countries in the 2024-25 fiscal year amounted to 19 billion US dollars.
Despite such a large trade partnership, no Chinese bank has yet begun direct operations in Bangladesh. Yet Chinese banks have a direct presence in Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, countries with equal or smaller trade volumes. The presentation said that if Chinese bank branches expand in Bangladesh, the prospects for bilateral trade and long-term financing will strengthen further.
The event highlighted Bangladesh's priority investment sectors, especially the advantages of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) and the Mongla Economic Zone. How Chinese entrepreneurs' investment and financial institutions' financing in these areas could be increased was reviewed in detail.
In a networking session held afterwards, representatives of Chinese financing institutions and corporate companies discussed with the Bangladeshi delegation the possibilities of direct investment, financing and joint partnerships.
Speaking at the conference, Invest Bangladesh chairman Ashik Chowdhury said, 'The next step in Bangladesh-China cooperation is to establish financial connectivity. Chinese companies investing in Bangladesh need easy and effective trade financing, machinery purchase financing, working capital and long-term investment support.'
He added, 'The volume of trade between the two countries itself shows the demand for such financing. On the other hand, Bangladeshi companies need technology and partnerships that support business and production expansion. If the presence of Chinese financial institutions increases in Bangladesh, both sides will benefit and implementing investment decisions will become easier.'
China Exim Bank vice president Wang Kang said, 'As a financial institution supporting China's foreign trade, investment and international cooperation, the Export-Import Bank of China is putting its specialised capabilities to work.'
He said his institution has about 40 ongoing projects in various sectors in Bangladesh, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, processing and manufacturing. In addition, leading Chinese institutions will be encouraged to invest directly in priority sectors such as textiles and healthcare, which will contribute positively and continuously to the development of Bangladesh's production and service-oriented economy.
