BIDA, BEZA and PPPA under one umbrella, ‘Invest Bangladesh’ is coming

The government is going to bring major changes in the country’s investment management. Initiatives have been taken to form a new organization ‘Invest Bangladesh’ by ​​merging Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) and Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA).

It has been decided to bring these three organizations under the same structure to make services for investors easier, faster and more integrated.

The ‘Invest Bangladesh Bill, 2026’ was passed by the National Parliament on July 15. The law will come into effect from the date specified by the government’s gazette notification. After that, the activities of Invest Bangladesh will officially start in the new structure.

This new organization will work as the country’s main investment development organization under the Prime Minister’s Office. Through this, investment development, economic zone management and public-private partnership activities will be managed under the same organization.

Ashiq Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA and CEO of PPPA, said that ensuring an effective 'one-stop' service for investors was a long-standing need. An integrated investment agency will play a significant role in improving the country's business environment and attracting domestic and foreign investment.

He also said that international organization UNCTAD has also recommended such an integrated structure as part of Bangladesh's investment environment reform. He expressed hope that Invest Bangladesh will help strengthen the country's position in global investment competition.

This initiative is also seen as an important step as part of the government's 180-day business environment development plan. The new structure aims to increase investment, expand industrialization, create employment and make public-private partnership activities more effective.

Under Invest Bangladesh, opportunities will be created to manage investment-related approvals, registrations, import-export facilities, incentives, industrial zone development and other government services in an integrated manner.

There are also plans to introduce single window clearance, one-stop service, digitalization of approval and licensing process and bring investment related services to a digital platform.

The new law provides for the creation of an integrated framework for the management of industrial zones, economic zones and free trade zones. It also provides for further clarification of the PPP project approval process, easy approval of small-scale PPP projects and effective use of government resources.

If the law comes into force, the BIDA Act 2016, BEZA Act 2010, PPP Act 2015 and One Stop Service Act 2018 will be repealed. The responsibilities and activities of these organizations will be consolidated under the new organization Invest Bangladesh.