Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President for South, Central and West Asia Yingming Yang concluded a five-day visit to Bangladesh on Thursday, advancing consultations on the bank’s next Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) and discussions on key reforms, investment priorities and the Integrated Growth Network Development (IGND) initiative.
“Bangladesh is entering an important phase of its development journey, with a growing need to strengthen competitiveness, mobilise private investment, and build resilience,” Yang said.
He said the discussions during his visit reaffirmed the strength of the ADB-Bangladesh partnership and highlighted the need to translate strategic commitments into sequenced reforms, bankable investments and effective implementation.
As a government-led initiative, IGND provides a framework for aligning reforms, investments and institutions to unlock opportunities across regions, strengthen connectivity and productivity, and support Bangladesh’s long-term growth ambitions, he said.
The visit followed ADB President Masato Kanda’s visit to Bangladesh in May. The government and ADB have identified an annual ADB pipeline of more than $1 billion aligned with the IGND initiative and begun investment promotion consultations with private sector representatives.
Yang also discussed Bangladesh’s potential to emerge as a regional hub for transport, logistics, energy and digital connectivity through stronger regional cooperation and integration.
During a meeting with Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, discussions focused on aligning the next CPS with the government’s medium-term reform and development framework, promoting private sector-led economic diversification and strengthening resilience to shocks.
They also reviewed progress and next steps for IGND implementation, including priority growth-node planning and project pipeline readiness. Banking and capital market development, renewable energy and private investment mobilisation were also discussed.
In Chattogram, Yang delivered the keynote address at a national dissemination seminar on IGND, highlighting the initiative’s potential to strengthen links among growth centres, markets and regional and global value chains.
He said integrated investments in infrastructure, logistics, energy, urban development and human capital could raise productivity, attract investment, create quality jobs and expand economic opportunities across regions.
Yang also held consultations with senior government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, think tanks and other stakeholders on the next CPS. The discussions focused on private sector-led diversification and resilience to external and domestic shocks, including the reforms, investments and implementation arrangements required to deliver these priorities.
During his visit, Yang met Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood; Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo; Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman; and Prime Minister’s Adviser for Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, among others.
The meetings covered banking and capital market reforms, renewable energy, private sector participation, climate-resilient investment, digital transformation and the role of Chattogram as Bangladesh’s principal maritime and economic gateway.
Yang also met bilateral and multilateral development partners to discuss complementary programming, cofinancing, technical assistance and coordinated policy dialogue. He discussed using IGND as a platform to align development pipelines and address financing and implementation gaps.
In meetings with private sector representatives and think tanks, he discussed reform priorities, implementation constraints, investment barriers and opportunities to mobilise private capital under IGND. The feedback will inform the next CPS and ADB’s future operations.
In Chattogram, Yang also visited activities supported under ADB’s Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program and reviewed how industry-linked training can contribute to employment, productivity and industrial competitiveness.
