Bangladesh Urges Chinese Banks to Start Operations to Boost Trade, Investment

Bangladesh has urged leading Chinese banks to establish operations in the country to strengthen financial connectivity, facilitate trade financing and support Chinese investment in Bangladesh.

The issue was highlighted at a ‘Bangladesh Day’ event held in Beijing on Tuesday, jointly organised by the Export-Import Bank of China and Invest Bangladesh. Eleven Chinese financial institutions participated in the event, including three of the world’s four largest banks by assets - the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China.

Despite bilateral trade with China reaching $19 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year, no Chinese bank currently operates directly in Bangladesh, according to a joint presentation by Bangladesh Bank and Invest Bangladesh.

The presentation noted that Chinese banks already operate in Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, whose trade with China is comparable to or lower than Bangladesh’s. A stronger presence of Chinese banks in Bangladesh could create more opportunities to finance trade and investment between the two countries, it added.

Ashik Chowdhury, chairman of Invest Bangladesh, said stronger financial ties would be the next important step in Bangladesh-China cooperation.
He said Chinese companies investing in Bangladesh needed easier access to trade finance, machinery financing, working capital and long-term investment support.

At the same time, Bangladeshi businesses needed access to technology and partnerships to expand their operations and increase production capacity, he added.
A greater presence of Chinese financial institutions in Bangladesh would benefit both countries and help translate investment plans into actual projects, Chowdhury said.

The event also highlighted investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s priority sectors, the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) and the Mongla Economic Zone. Participants discussed ways to attract more Chinese investment and expand the role of financial institutions in supporting these initiatives.

China Exim Bank Vice President Wang Kang said the bank continued to use its specialised financial services to support China’s foreign trade, overseas investment and international cooperation.

He said the bank was involved in around 40 projects in Bangladesh across sectors including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, processing and manufacturing.
Wang also said the bank would encourage more leading Chinese companies to invest directly in priority sectors such as textiles and healthcare. He expressed hope that such investment would help develop Bangladesh’s manufacturing and service sectors.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to China, Md Nazmul Islam, also spoke at the event.

During a networking session, representatives of Chinese banks and companies held discussions with the Bangladeshi delegation on investment opportunities, financing and potential business partnerships.

The event aimed to strengthen financial ties between Bangladesh and China and create greater opportunities for Chinese businesses to invest in Bangladesh.