The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) has urged the government to ensure effective and consistent implementation of policy reforms to strengthen investor confidence and attract greater domestic and foreign investment.

AmCham made the call at a luncheon titled “Building Investors’ Confidence: From Policy Reform to Effective Implementation” held on Sunday (August 16) at the InterContinental Dhaka.

The event brought together senior government officials, policymakers, business leaders, investors and AmCham members for discussions on strengthening Bangladesh’s investment climate and translating policy reforms into greater investor confidence and investment.

AmCham President Syed Mohammad Kamal highlighted the strong potential for increased US investment in Bangladesh, particularly in emerging and technology-driven sectors.

He said Bangladesh already possesses many of the fundamentals sought by investors, but consistent implementation of policy reforms will be crucial to converting this potential into sustained investor confidence and actual investment.

Syed Mohammad Kamal stressed the importance of turning the momentum of reforms into predictable and tangible outcomes. This, he said, would help strengthen Bangladesh’s position as a preferred destination for US investment, technology and trade in South Asia.

HSBC Chief Executive Officer Md Mahbub ur Rahman said investor confidence largely depends on the security and stability of capital, supported by a predictable and transparent business environment.

He emphasised the need to build on Bangladesh’s competitive strengths and said facilitating trade would help attract more domestic and foreign investment.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury outlined the government’s efforts to create a more business-friendly environment by reducing regulatory barriers and improving the ease of doing business.

He highlighted ongoing deregulation initiatives and mechanisms through which businesses can raise concerns regarding regulatory bottlenecks.

On taxation, the finance minister said reforms are underway to establish a more efficient and transparent framework through greater expertise and automation. He also highlighted efforts to streamline port and customs procedures to facilitate trade and investment.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to engaging with the private sector, Amir Khasru stressed that policy predictability and consistency are essential for strengthening investor confidence and supporting sustainable investment.

The luncheon concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session moderated by AmCham President Syed Mohammad Kamal. Members of the business community exchanged views with the finance minister on Bangladesh’s economic outlook and key policy priorities.

The discussion covered revenue mobilisation, private investment and the broader regulatory environment, including the need to improve access to capital for startups and emerging businesses.

The finance minister said the government is focusing on benchmarking compliant businesses, ensuring tax obligations are properly met and accelerating full automation of the taxation system to reduce corruption and improve efficiency.

The event was supported by Chevron Bangladesh, HSBC, Transcom Group and VISA.