Staff Reporter:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has identified an annual financing pipeline of more than $1 billion for Bangladesh under the government-led Integrated Growth Network Development (IGND) initiative.

ADB Vice-President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang disclosed this during his five-day visit to Bangladesh, which concluded on Thursday.

The pipeline will support reforms and investments aimed at strengthening connectivity, productivity, private investment and economic resilience.

The government and ADB have also begun investment promotion consultations with private-sector representatives.

During the visit, Yang held meetings with Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and other senior government officials to discuss the next ADB Country Partnership Strategy, banking and capital market reforms, renewable energy and private investment mobilisation.

He said Bangladesh needs to strengthen competitiveness, attract private investment and build resilience to external shocks.

Yang also highlighted Bangladesh’s potential to become a regional hub for transport, logistics, energy and digital connectivity through stronger regional cooperation.