The Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank) and Invest Bangladesh have showcased opportunities for Chinese banks to establish operations in Bangladesh, aiming to strengthen financial ties between the two countries.
The two organisations jointly organised "Bangladesh Day" at China Exim Bank's headquarters in Beijing on 20 October, bringing together 11 Chinese financial institutions, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China, according to a press release issued by Invest Bangladesh.
The event was also attended by 26 Chinese companies operating in sectors including infrastructure and engineering, power and renewable energy, information and communications technology, electronics, industrial technologies, environmental solutions and agri-tech.
Invest Bangladesh Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun attended as the chief guest, while China Exim Bank Vice President Wang Kang and Bangladesh Ambassador to China Nazmul Islam also attended and addressed the event.
Bangladesh Bank and Invest Bangladesh jointly delivered a keynote presentation titled "The Next Frontier – Bangladesh-China Financial Connectivity", highlighting the scope for greater financial cooperation between the two countries.
Bangladesh's trade with China reached $19 billion in FY2025, but no Chinese bank operates locally, unlike in markets such as Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, which have comparable trade ties with China, the presentation noted.
The event also highlighted investment opportunities in Bangladesh's priority sectors, the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) and the Mongla Economic Zone.
In his remarks, Ashik Chowdhury said stronger financial connectivity could help Chinese companies investing in Bangladesh access trade finance, equipment financing, working capital and long-term investment support.
"The next frontier of Bangladesh-China cooperation is financial connectivity," he said, adding that stronger participation by Chinese financial institutions could benefit businesses in both countries and make investment decisions easier to implement.
Wang Kang said China Exim Bank currently has nearly 40 projects in Bangladesh across infrastructure, energy, agriculture, processing and manufacturing.
He also said that the bank would encourage more leading Chinese companies to invest directly in priority sectors, including textiles and healthcare, while continuing to support Bangladesh's real economy through financing.
The programme also included a session on China Exim Bank's role in supporting bilateral trade and investment, followed by a networking session where participants discussed financing needs, investment opportunities and potential partnerships.