TV24 Desk: The Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) hosted a high-level luncheon on “Conducive Fiscal Policy for a Better Investment Climate” at the Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel, bringing together policymakers, economists, development partners, business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community for a timely discussion on Bangladesh’s fiscal outlook.
The session featured Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Founder and Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, as the keynote speaker. He emphasized that both tax policy and tax administration remain key concerns for investors. He noted that relatively high corporate tax rates, lengthy compliance processes, a fragmented administrative structure, policy unpredictability, complex dispute resolution, and frequent mid-year changes continue to create uncertainty in the investment environment.
The panel discussion was moderated by Shams Zaman, Member of the FICCI Board of Directors and Country Managing Partner at PwC. The discussion brought together Jean Pesme, Division Director for Bangladesh & Bhutan at the World Bank; Chandan Sapkota, Country Economist at the Bangladesh Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); and Abul Kasem Khan, Chairperson of Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD).
Panelists shared perspectives on the current fiscal landscape, highlighting challenges such as policy inconsistency, tax system complexities, and limited coordination among regulatory bodies. They stressed the need for greater policy stability, a broader tax base, improved revenue administration, and a more transparent and business-friendly environment to attract and retain foreign direct investment.
In her remarks, FICCI President and Managing Director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, Rupali Haque Chowdhury underscored the importance of a stable, transparent, and forward-looking fiscal framework to sustain investor confidence. She highlighted that predictable tax policies, simplified compliance, and consistent regulations are essential for long-term investment decisions. She also emphasized the contribution of foreign investors to economic growth, employment, and technology transfer, and called for stronger public-private collaboration and evidence-based policymaking to keep Bangladesh competitive in a changing global landscape.
FICCI Senior Vice President and Chairman and Managing Director at Nestlé Bangladesh PLC, Deepal Abeywickrema, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing appreciation to the speakers and participants. He noted that the discussion offered valuable, forward-looking insights into the challenges within the current fiscal framework and practical ways to address them. He reaffirmed
FICCI’s commitment to continued advocacy, adding that the key takeaways from the session will guide ongoing engagement with policymakers and stakeholders to help foster a more conducive investment climate.
The event was attended by members of the FICCI Board of Directors, CEOs of member companies, representatives from various embassies, development partners, and other key stakeholders from the business community.
FICCI reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with the Government and relevant stakeholders to promote a predictable, transparent, and investment-friendly fiscal environment that supports sustainable economic growth.
