NRB World to bring expatriates to Dhaka for investment summit

US-based nonprofit NRB World will hold the NRB World Summit 2026 at Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka on 28-29 December to channel expatriate Bangladeshis' expertise and investment capacity into the country's development.

About 1,000 expatriate entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, experts, diplomats and government representatives from various countries are expected to attend, the organisers said at a press conference at the National Press Club in the capital.

NRB World aims to connect established expatriate Bangladeshis with foreign investors to create business, industry and job opportunities in the country.

“Our responsibility is to build a bridge between foreign investors and Bangladesh. How they are used after that is the government's responsibility,” NRB World President Md Shahiduzzaman said.

The organisation plans to use a government incentive that it says gives a person who brings in foreign direct investment (FDI) 1.5% of the investment in cash. Shahiduzzaman said this would help cover the initial costs of hosting foreign investors and building business contacts.

Under the plan, expatriates will introduce foreign friends, partners and investors to investment opportunities, who will then meet local entrepreneurs and explore projects.

Shahiduzzaman said the government had given assurances on tax holidays, profit repatriation and administrative support for investors.

He claimed Invest Bangladesh would offer company registration and other services in one place, and that Bangladesh's overseas commercial counsellors had been instructed accordingly.

Shahiduzzaman demanded a single identity card and number for every expatriate, backed by a central database of their professions, skills and investment capacity, which he said could be built jointly by the foreign and home ministries.

“We send remittances for the country, yet we still have no identity card,” he said. “We want the government to hold our information so we can get the necessary benefits and tax privileges.”

He also called for safeguards for expatriates' investments, savings and transactions, and for fewer administrative hurdles.

Citing his own figures, Shahiduzzaman said remittances stood at $26.9 billion in 2024 and $32.81 billion in 2025. They have reached $30.37 billion so far this year (up to October) and could hit $35-36 billion by year-end, he said.

Singapore sent $1.27 billion in 2025 and has already topped $1.4 billion this year, he added.

The organisation also wants to bring doctors, engineers, researchers, technologists and entrepreneurs abroad into skills training, technology transfer and job creation at home.

Discussions will cover international business and investment, technology and artificial intelligence, skills development, employment, energy security, sustainable development and healthcare. A Global Health Summit 2026 will run alongside, focusing on medical research and health-sector investment.

An international publication will be unveiled and the 2026-2028 executive committee announced.

Read More

Bangladeshi expatriate Ziaur killed in Italy road accident

Organisers said they had contacted business groups and professionals in California, New York, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney and Japan, and held press conferences in the UK and France. NRB World says it is building networks in more than 50 countries.

NRB World began formal operations in 2020, building on a World Business Summit held in Singapore in 2014. It later held summits in Bangladesh (2017), the US (2018) and Dubai (2019-2021).

Founder Enamul Haque Enam, directors Anisul Kabir Jasir and Rehan Reza, and Regional Director Sumaiya Zaman were also present.