Chinese investors are ready to invest in Bangladesh's green technology, jute, textiles, and medicines as part of efforts to assist Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus' vision for manufacturing transformation.
The visiting Vice-President of the Export-Import Bank of China, Yang Dongning, made the remarks during a meeting with the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Thursday, according to the Chief Adviser's Press Wing.
She was joined by Dr Ma Jun, President of the state-run Institute of Finance and Sustainability.
Yang Dongning stated that, while China has traditionally invested extensively in Bangladesh's huge infrastructure projects, its investors are now shifting their focus to crucial manufacturing sectors.
These include rooftop solar panels and large-scale investments in Bangladesh's "golden fibre", jute—particularly for energy, biofertiliser, and plastic alternatives.
Dongning stated that Chinese businesses and the Exim Bank, which has already financed large infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, are interested in backing these direct industrial ventures as well.
Dr Ma Jun stated that Bangladesh's traditional jute sector is a major source of interest for Chinese investors seeking to form joint ventures with Bangladeshi competitors.
He stated that Chinese companies are willing to use up to one million tonnes of jute to make green energy, fertilisers, and viable alternatives to plastics.
"There are opportunities for joint ventures in jute with Chinese financing," Dr Ma indicated.
The Chief Adviser welcomed China's interest in Bangladesh's manufacturing sectors, stating that investors from the world's second-largest economy might help transform Bangladesh into a manufacturing powerhouse that exports goods to industrialised countries like China.
"We can go full speed in these areas," Professor Yunus said, naming pharmaceuticals and healthcare as two other sectors with high potential for Chinese investment.
He pointed out that China, the world's greatest producer of solar energy, could help Bangladesh switch to green energy by investing in solar panels and rooftop solar systems.
The Chief Adviser also urged China to relocate manufacturing companies to Bangladesh, emphasising the potential use of the country's enormous pool of young workers. He advised that defunct state-owned jute factories be repurposed for new joint ventures.
"This is an extremely essential dimension. We welcome this. "We want to put these into action," Professor Yunus stated, referring to China's interest in jute-based manufacturing.
According to Yang Dongning, Chinese corporations are also looking into investments in artificial intelligence and e-commerce, two areas where China has risen as a worldwide leader.
In response, the Chief Adviser asked Chinese enterprises to relocate factories to southeastern Bangladesh, which has the country's largest seaports and is strategically close to Myanmar, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian markets.
"This region of the country has extensive access to the sea. Chinese industries may be relocated here, producing items and exporting them to rich nations as well as China," he remarked.
Professor Yunus also asked Chinese infrastructure corporations to establish railway linkages from Bangladesh to southern China in order to assist exports from relocated manufacturing enterprises while also improving regional connectivity.
The Chief Adviser expressed his heartfelt sympathies at the opening of the meeting following the deaths of scores of persons in a fire in a Hong Kong residential tower.
Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator, and Yao Wen, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, also attended the conference.
