Economy

GDP: US$ 105bn (IMF)
GDP per head: US$638 (IMF)
GDP Growth: 6.0% (IMF 2010 est.)
Human Development Index Ranking: 129th out of 168 countries (UN)
Inflation: 8.1% (IMF)
Foreign Exchange Reserves: $11.2 billion (IMF)
Export partners (goods): EU27 (51%), US (26%), India (4%), Canada (3.5%), China (1.7%) (WTO)
Import partners (goods): China (15.6%), India (13.2%), EU27 (9.7%), Kuwait (7.2%), Indonesia (5.1%) (WTO)
Inward Remittances: US$ 11bn, 12% of GDP (World Bank 2010 est.)
Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ranking:  134th of 180 countries
World Bank Doing Business Ranking: 107th of 183 countries
Principal Exports: Garments account for 80% of Bangladesh’s exports to the UK. Seafood is also a significant Bangladesh export. Almost 10% of Bangladesh’s world-wide exports go to the UK.

Outlook for Bangladesh: Bangladesh has made significant economic progress in the past 10 years. Annual economic growth has averaged 5-6% since 2000 and incomes have doubled in less than 30 years. The IMF forecast economic growth in Bangladesh to increase steadily to 7% by 2014. This will be necessary to tackle its high levels of poverty and underemployment, given the expected growth in the working age population.  115 million people still live on less than US$2 per day.

Trade and Investment

During the current global economic downturn, Bangladesh has been able to maintain a healthy GDP growth rate of around 6%, achieving 6.7 % in the last financial year, and aiming for 7% in 2011. Our next Five Year Plan, covering the years 2011 to 2015 is designed with the goal of achieving average growth of around 8%. Moreover, our exports market has proven resilient to the downturn, growing by over 20% over in the last several years, with 41 % in the last year. In addition, remittances by the growing amount of Bangladeshi nationals living abroad has not been affected by the recession. In financial year 2010 remittances reached $11 billion, a 13.4% increase compared to the year before contributing heavily to our robust internal consumption which grew by 4.2% in 2010.
          Over the recent years, Bangladesh has made vast advances in manufacturing, infrastructure, human resource development, banking and corporate sectors. As I am about to demonstrate to you, our macro-economic fundamentals are solid and we are socio-economically a stable country with a domestic market of 150 million people.
Furthermore Bangladesh's strategic geographical location, bordering India and close to China, with regional connections with Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and South East Asia, places us as a natural regional hub at the heart of a 3 billion people economic area.
Bangladesh has the most liberal Foreign Direct Investment regime in South Asia, allowing for the repatriation of 100% of profits and foreign equity. We also provide corporate tax holidays, concessionary duty on the import of machinery as well as full repatriation facilities for dividends and capital on exit. We have also cut significant amount of red tape concerning doing business in Bangladesh, reducing company set up times from several months to a day.
          Sixty percent of our population is below the age of 40, providing an abundant and cheap labor force. Furthermore as a Least Developed Country, we enjoy duty free and quota free access to the EU, which has recently also relaxed rules of origin for garments exports from Bangladesh.
          Moreover, our Board of Investment (BOI) which deals with the needs of foreign investors is a modern, friendly institution with a "one stop shop service". Our apex trade body is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce with a chapter in Dhaka, and it is gradually becoming the regional hub for settling trade related disputes. The presence of free press, independent judiciary and statutory bodies such as Election Commission, Human Rights Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission, ensure good governance and the rule of law.
          Our successes have also been recognized by major investment banks with Goldman Sachs including Bangladesh in its list of "Next 11" and J.P. Morgan in its "Frontier Five". And the research company, Gartner, lists Bangladesh among its 30 best outsourcing destinations. In 2010 both Standard & Poor's and Moody's gave Bangladesh a credit rating at BB- and Ba3 respectively, placing us ahead of all other South Asian countries, except India, in terms of credit worthiness and investment opportunities.
          World Bank has ranked Bangladesh as the 20th country for Investor Protection ahead of India, China and Vietnam; and UNCTAD, in its annual Global Investment Report, mentioned FDI inflows to Bangladesh increased by 30% in 2011.
Bangladesh government has also taken on infrastructure projects on a massive scale and adopted the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Policy to facilitate the building of more robust infrastructure in a short timeframe. Projects under way include highways, a Dhaka city mono-rail, improved railroad network, and new power stations.
          Furthermore there is huge potentials for joint ventures in Bangladesh, we particularly welcome individual investment in pharmaceuticals, tourism, manufacturing, ICT, ceramics, and renewable energy projects. 

Travel & Tourism

Bangladesh is one of the few countries in South Asia, offering lots of green land with a rich and magnificent history. Bangladesh possesses a wealthy culture and heritage. It is a land of charming natural beauty with a chain of great rivers and clear lakes surrounded by green hills, exotic tropical rain forests and beautiful green tea gardens. Come and explore the world's largest mangrove forest in Bangladesh, preserved as World Heritage and is also a home of the Royal Bengal tiger and wild life. Also visit world's longest natural sea beach and the remains of ancient Buddhist civilization along with vibrant tribal life. So catch a perfect combination of adventure and beauty on your tour to Bangladesh.