Chattogram: Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President for South, Central, and West Asia Yingming Yang concluded a five-day visit to Bangladesh, 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 stated during his visit.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Yang emphasized the strong ADB-Bangladesh partnership and highlighted the necessity to convert strategic commitments into sequenced reforms, bankable investments, and effective implementation. IGND, a government-led initiative, offers a framework to align reforms, investments, and institutions, unlocking opportunities across regions and supporting Bangladesh’s long-term growth ambitions.
Yang’s visit follows ADB President Masato Kanda’s trip to Bangladesh in May. The government and ADB have identified an annual ADB pipeline exceeding $1 billion aligned with the IGND initiative and have begun investment promotion consultations with private sector representatives. Yang discussed Bangladesh’s potential to become 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 centered on aligning the next CPS with the government’s medium-term reform and development framework, promoting private sector-led economic diversification, and enhancing resilience to shocks. They also reviewed progress and next steps for IGND implementation, including priority growth-node planning and project pipeline readiness.
In Chattogram, Yang delivered the keynote address at a national dissemination seminar on IGND, emphasizing the initiative’s potential to strengthen links among growth centers, markets, and regional and global value chains. He noted that integrated investments in infrastructure, logistics, energy, urban development, and human capital could enhance productivity, attract investment, 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. Discussions focused on private sector-led diversification and resilience to external and domestic shocks, requiring reforms, investments, and implementation arrangements to deliver these priorities.
During his visit, Yang met with 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. Topics included banking and capital market reforms, renewable energy, private sector participation, climate-resilient investment, digital transformation, and Chattogram’s role as Bangladesh’s principal maritime and economic gateway.
Yang also engaged with bilateral and multilateral development partners to discuss complementary programming, cofinancing, technical assistance, and coordinated policy dialogue. He explored using IGND as a platform to align development pipelines and address financing and implementation gaps.
In meetings with private sector representatives and think tanks, Yang discussed reform priorities, implementation constraints, investment barriers, and opportunities to mobilize private capital under IGND. The feedback will inform the next CPS and ADB’s future operations. Additionally, in Chattogram, Yang visited activities supported under ADB’s Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program, reviewing how industry-linked training can contribute to employment, productivity, and industrial competitiveness.