Bangladesh Investment Summit 2024 to Commence on April 7; Starlink test runs on April 9
The four-day Bangladesh Investment Summit is set to begin in Dhaka on April 7, with over 550 foreign investors from more than 50 countries in attendance. A significant portion of these investors will be from China, along with participants from the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, and India.
More than 2,000 representatives from Bangladeshi companies will also take part in the event. However, the official inauguration will take place on the third day, April 9, during which the satellite-based internet service Starlink will conduct its "test run." The Chief Advisor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, will inaugurate the summit.
At a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday (March 23), the Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ashiq Chowdhury, shared details regarding the summit's preparations.
"Seamless communication is crucial for investment. To ensure uninterrupted connectivity, Starlink's internet service will be launched on a trial basis. We are calling this the ‘Starlink Demo Day.’ From April 9, all summit events will be broadcast live on social media using this service. The formal launch of the service will take place 90 days later," he stated.
He further mentioned that foreign investors would spend the first two days of the summit outside Dhaka. On April 7, they will visit the National Economic Zone in Mirsarai, Chattogram, and on April 8, they will tour the Japanese Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj.
"We will primarily highlight investment opportunities in five key sectors: renewable energy, the digital economy, garments and textiles, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and agricultural processing. Each topic will be discussed in dedicated sessions with the participation of business representatives from various countries," he added.
BIDA expects that the summit will facilitate investment opportunities, foster partnerships, and provide a platform for top decision-makers to connect and strategize for future business prospects.
The press conference was attended by the Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, Deputy Press Secretary, Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar, and BIDA’s Head of Business Development, Nahian Rahman Rochi.
As part of the summit, a 26-member delegation from South Korea and other foreign investors will visit Chattogram, Mirsarai, and the Korean EPZ on April 7. On the same day, a startup networking event will take place at Hotel InterContinental. On April 8, investors will visit the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, followed by an exclusive networking event in the evening.
The main event of the summit will be held on April 9, inaugurated by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The event will bring together ambassadors, policymakers, and top business leaders. A Young Entrepreneurs Expo and a breakout session on renewable energy, organized by the European Union and UNDP, will also take place. Additionally, a special cultural evening, supported by the Ministry of Culture, will showcase Bangladesh’s rich heritage.
On April 10, multiple breakout sessions will be held, focusing on the digital economy (organized by Citi N.A. and UNDP), textiles (HSBC and BGMEA), agriculture and agribusiness (Dutch Embassy and LCP), and healthcare (Inspira, EBL, and Sajida Foundation). Furthermore, investment matchmaking sessions and a roundtable discussion on best investment practices will be arranged.
Although prominent technology sector leaders, including Samsung’s Vice President, the CEO of Go Brand, and representatives from Meta and Uber, will be in attendance, Starlink CEO Elon Musk will not participate. Addressing this, the BIDA Chairman stated, "Elon Musk is currently engaged in a different role as part of the U.S. government. While a Starlink delegation will be present, he will not attend personally."
