The World Bank calls it the Bangladesh Paradox. The Bangladesh economy has steadily accelerated in recent years, with growth reaching 7 percent in 2006. The country scores particularly well on socio-economic indicators. Global banks and multilateral institutions present a highly optimistic outlook: Citi, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch have identified Bangladesh as a key investment opportunity. This impressive growth occurs in a climate of political restructuring. A caretaker government is implementing reforms toward privatizing many state-owned enterprises. The Dhaka Stock Exchange Index is at a 10-year high, up 66 percent this year, making it Asia's top performer after China. And the stock market is expected to double in size in 2008.
Discover why market-oriented reforms, strong socio-economic indicators and highly favorable demographics are poised to render Bangladesh one of the world's most exciting investment opportunities- Asia Society
Bio
Peter Berezin
Peter Berezin is vice president and senior global economist for Goldman Sachs. He spent six years as a staff economist at the International Monetary Fund.
David Fernandez
Dr. David Fernandez serves as JP Morgan's Head of Economic and Sovereign Research covering non-Japan Asia. Before joining JP Morgan in January 1998, Mr. Fernandez spent five years as a professor of economics at the Johns Hopkins University, International Studies School, where he taught international macroeconomics.
Iftakharul Islam
Iftakharul Islam is the Founder and Managing Partner of Asian Tiger Capital Partners.
Ambassador M. Humayun Kabir
Humayun Kabir became ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States on July 20, 2007.
A career diplomat with the rank of deputy permanent secretary, Ambassador Kabir previously served as Bangladesh’s high commissioner to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji (2006-07), as well as ambassador to Nepal (2003-06). In addition, he was director-general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for South Asia and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (2003), for Europe (2002), and for the United Nations (2001). He also served as deputy high commissioner (1999-01), first secretary and counselor (1991-94) at the Bangladesh Embassy in India, counselor at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (1996-99), and second and first secretary at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington (1987-91).
Additional postings include director of the U.N. and Foreign Secretary’s Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1994-96), private secretary to the advisor for foreign affairs and section officer at the Foreign Minister’s Office (1984-87), and lecturer at the University of Dhaka (1977-80).
Ahsan Mansur
Ahsan Mansur is the Division Chief of the Middle East and Central Asia department of the International Monetary Fund.
Munawar Misbah Moin
Mr. Munawar Misbah Moin is the Group Director of Rahimafrooz (BD) Limited.
Mamun Rashid
Mamun Rashid is CEO of Citibank, N.A., Bangladesh and is the Citigroup Country Officer.