Professor Muhammad Yunus is prioritizing efforts to attract direct foreign investment to Bangladesh, according to Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser. Speaking at a meeting at the Chattogram Port on Thursday, Alam said that Professor Yunus is actively engaging with major global investors and stakeholders who are well-informed about Bangladesh’s economic landscape.
“Wherever he goes, Professor Yunus is meeting with top investors and discussing how they can be encouraged to invest in Bangladesh,” said Alam. “For the past two to three decades, we’ve aspired to bring in foreign investment but haven’t achieved our goals. As a result, we’ve failed to meet our job creation expectations.”
Alam pointed out the growing trend of young workers from the Chattogram region seeking employment in the Middle East. “These individuals could have been a powerful productive force here in Bangladesh,” he added. “Our goal is to create conditions where they can work and earn at home instead of going abroad.”
Professor Yunus envisions transforming Bangladesh into a “global factory,” Alam said. A key aspect of this vision is increasing the efficiency of Chattogram Port. “Many have told Professor Yunus in meetings that without an efficient port, foreign investors won’t come. If a product is ordered, it must be delivered within 7 to 10 days. Without that capability, good investments won’t be attracted.”
To address this, Professor Yunus is focusing on securing agreements with some of the world’s largest port operators to rapidly raise Chattogram Port’s efficiency. “His dream revolves around the port. If efficiency levels can be improved through global partnerships, major investors will start coming to Bangladesh,” Alam emphasized.
Earlier in the day, Shafiqul Alam visited the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port. He was accompanied by Ashiq Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, and Rear Admiral SM Muniruzzaman, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority.
