Dhaka, June 20 (V7N) – Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Bangladesh declined by 13 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest World Investment Report published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Thursday (June 19).

In 2024, Bangladesh received $1.27 billion in actual FDI, equivalent to approximately Tk 15,500 crore. This is down from $1.464 billion in 2023.

At the end of 2024, Bangladesh’s foreign investment stock stood at $18.29 billion, representing just 4 percent of the country’s GDP. This figure is significantly lower than the South Asian average of 13 percent. Neighboring India recorded a 14 percent ratio, while Bhutan stands at 17 percent.

The report also highlighted a 35 percent drop in the amount of capital committed by foreign investors to new projects in Bangladesh, totaling $1.75 billion in 2024.

On the outbound side, only $7 million was legally invested abroad by Bangladeshi investors in 2024, approximately Tk 850 million. Over the past five years, the highest outbound investment by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs was $80 million in 2021.

Experts say the decline in FDI inflows could impact the country’s economic growth, emphasizing the need for enhanced investment-friendly policies to attract and retain foreign investors.

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