DHAKA, Jan 19, 2025 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has launched Bangladesh's FDI Heatmap, a data-driven framework, to attract the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
 
Focusing on 19 high-potential sectors, the heatmap provides a strategic blueprint for all future strategies and promotion, said a press release.
 
Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of BIDA, said the FDI Heatmap is more than a plan; it is the blueprint for all our future touch points with investors.
 
"Every road show we plan, bilateral investment treaty we negotiate, or policy support we provide will follow this data-driven analysis from the experts," he added.
 
Nahian Rahman Rochi, BIDA Head of Business Development, despite Bangladesh's strong economic fundamentals, FDI contributions remain at only 0.5% of GDP-far below the global average of 3-4%.
 
The heatmap aims to reverse this trend by leveraging a structured approach to prioritize sectors, identify high-potential investor markets, and align investment strategies with national goals, he added.
 
The development of the FDI heatmap was made possible through the key contributions of industry experts, including Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), International Finance Corporation (IFC), IDLC Finance PLC, LightCastle Partners, Inspira Advisory & Consulting Limited, the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).
 
The heatmap identified 19 sectors and categorized them based on three key factors: market readiness and potential, input factors availability, and strategic alignment with national goals, including SDG and ESG priorities.
 
The 19 sectors are core apparel, pharmaceuticals (without API), agro-processing IT-enabled services (IT-ES), advanced textiles and renewable energy, automotive parts, footwear, light engineering, leather, logistics, electronics & assembly, EV battery, medical devices, technical textiles, toys, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), semiconductor and plastic.
 
BIDA plans to operationalize the heatmap through a series of focused activities aimed at maximizing its impact. These include identifying target markets and lead investors aligned with the priority sectors, showcasing the heatmap findings at international investment forums and roadshows, and establishing a public-private advisory council to address policy gaps and strengthen sector ecosystems.
 
Additionally, the heatmap will be reviewed and updated annually to ensure it remains responsive to evolving market dynamics.