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With over 700 applications, including 130+ foreign registrations, the Agriculture & Agro-processing breakout session of the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 successfully hosted over 300 participants at the Hotel Intercontinental, Dhaka on April 10, 2025. As part of the broader summit held from April 7 to 10, this session—taking place on the final day—brought strategic focus to one of Bangladesh’s most vital sectors. It convened a diverse range of stakeholders, including policymakers, agri-businesses, international investors, technical experts, and regulatory authorities.
Co-organized by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, and LightCastle Partners, the session featured a full day of meaningful exchange, the introduction of new ideas, and the establishment of future-focused connections. It reflected a renewed spirit of collaboration and a strong commitment to sustainable development in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector.
The day opened with a high-level plenary titled “Growing Together in a Land of Opportunity and Agro-Investment Potential.” Remarks were delivered by Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mia, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, and moderated by Ms. Sara Van Hoeve, First Secretary – Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Both emphasized the significant potential of agro-investment and the importance of strengthening Bangladesh–Netherlands bilateral ties.
The plenary continued with presentations from high-profile sector actors:
An interactive Q&A with key regulatory and policy stakeholders followed, featuring representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh Bank, and BIDA. This open-floor session encouraged dynamic discussions on regulatory issues and investment facilitation. The plenary concluded with closing remarks by H.E. Mr. Andre Carstens, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
A major milestone of the day was the launch of two flagship partnerships:
These partnerships aim to deepen technical cooperation and build innovation-driven value chains in agriculture, with Bangladesh at the center.
The second half of the event featured two parallel breakout sessions:
Breakout Session 1: Finance in Agriculture & Agro-Industry
Chaired by Mr. Thijs Woudstra, Netherlands Embassy
Opening remarks were delivered by Professor Dr. M A Baqui Khalily, University of Asia Pacific. Speakers included:
The session ended with a lively Q&A moderated by Mr. Debashish Sarkar, Director, Agricultural Credit Division, Bangladesh Bank.
Breakout Session 2: Sustainable Agriculture – Innovation, Climate Resilience, and Global Market Opportunities
Chaired by H.E. Mr. Andre Carstens, Netherlands Ambassador
The session opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Md. Mahmudur Rahman, Ministry of Agriculture. Presentations and discussions spanned topics including sustainable horticulture, seed sector development, cold storage infrastructure, and impact clusters, led by:
The Q&A panel included:
Alongside the breakout sessions, a B2B matchmaking event brought together over 38 Bangladeshi companies and 20+ Dutch agri-stakeholders. This session aimed to foster investment connections, explore joint ventures, and build strategic partnerships across areas such as agro-processing, finance, greenhouse solutions, poultry, aquaculture, and advisory services.
The Agriculture & Agro-processing session of the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 successfully spotlighted the country’s potential as a destination for inclusive, innovation-driven agricultural investment. It laid the groundwork for stronger bilateral cooperation, shared learning, and transformational growth in one of Bangladesh’s most vital sectors.
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