Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bangladesh: Trends, Challenges and Recommendations

Abstract

During the liberation war in 1971 a nationalist weave emerged which gives Bangladeshis a spirit of freedom and dignity of independence but it also results on more reserved position in case of economic policy. Policy makers at that period used to see foreign companies access with a negative eyes. Foreign investments were discouraged as a result foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow in Bangladesh till 1980 is very insignificant. The growth of Bangladesh’s FDI inflow was around US$ 308-356 million for long fifteen years (1980-1995) which started with an amount of US $ 0.090 million in 1972. Afterwards this concept has been changed into a reverse position and government start encouraging foreign direct investment from 1990s. A series of policy incentives, investment sovereignty has been offered to the FDI investors including tax holiday for several years, duty free facility for importing capital machinery, 100% foreign ownership, 100% profit repatriation facility, reinvestment of profit or dividend as FDI, multiple visa, work permit to foreign executives, permanent resident or even citizenship for investing a specific amount, Export Processing Zone (EPZ) facility, and easy hassle free exit facility. Potential sectors of can attract more FDI are power generation, infrastructure development, private port establishment, joint venture with deep sea port establishment under PPP, ship building, ICT sector, call center, education, healthcare, mining, gas extraction, agro processed product, electrical and electronics, light engineering, and fashion designing etc. After so many incentives offered by the government till now FDI Inflow into Bangladesh is not at a satisfactory level. During last few years fresh FDI investment in not taking place. From the statistics of last few years it is quite clear that, reinvestment of locally earned profit is the major amount of FDI into Bangladesh. Fresh FDI inflow is decreasing day by day. Government has to investigate the issue and undertake necessary measures to increase fresh FDI into Bangladesh.