Describing Bangladesh's long journey, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said Bangladesh is a country with "crazy ideas" which make those ideas happen and urged foreign investors to look at Bangladesh seriously on the investment front and change the world by joining hands together.
“Bangladesh is a country with crazy ideas to change the world and to make things happen. So, we invite you to join that club to not only change Bangladesh by your business but also change the world,” he said while speaking at the formal inaugural ceremony of the four-day Bangladesh Investment Summit that originally began on April 7.
Dr Yunus said they do not look at Bangladesh alone but see the whole region which is very powerful with lots of resources. “We work together and facilitate each other.”
He said business in Bangladesh is not only for Bangladesh, it could be for the whole world.
Sharing the success stories of Grameen Bank and Grameenphone, the Chief Adviser said Bangladesh ground is very fertile. “You put a little bit of seeds, it becomes global. We welcome you to join us with that mission - creating a new world - for the whole world.”
He said whoever thought that microcredit which started in a tiny little village now would be a prime business in the United States in the name of Grameen America. “It is growing very fast.”
The 2006 Nobel peace prize winner said he kept reminding people that they can add a little piece of social purpose while doing business. “You will have fun ....if you want to make a business with the purpose along with the business we do, Bangladesh is the place,” he added.
Dr Yunus reiterated that making money is happiness but making other people happy is super happiness.
“If you have business in Bangladesh you have got happiness and supper happiness. That you get extra with no additional cost. You will be proud of what you have done. It impacts the life of people massively,” he said.
Dr Yunus said business is the most powerful mechanism by which one can change the world by coming out from the narrow approach.
“You earn money but earning money together and changing the life of the people together, is a fun that is something immeasurable. Each of your company can enjoy super happiness by expanding and reaching out to the impact that you made,” he said.
The Chief Adviser underscored that they can create a world of 'Three Zeros' and it can be done with the business, not by the government.
“The government cannot achieve that," he said, adding that it is not the function of the governments but it is the function of individuals - human beings. "We are human beings. We can change the world."
Noting that the business has given a big power tool to the people's hands, the Chief Adviser said new civilization will be such a civilization where there will be no carbon emission. “Let’s create a new civilization where we are wide and open to embrace the world,” Dr Yunus said, adding that business gives a big powerful tool in the hands.
Discouraging the wealth concentration, he said it is fun to make money but wealth concentration is the most dangerous thing to human beings. “It destroys the whole world.”
He also stressed on zero unemployment at the summit, saying the young generation can change the world as they have technology and innovative ideas.
Fabric Lagbe Ltd (innovation category), Walton, bkash (foreign investment), and Square Pharmaceutical (local company) were honoured with Excellence in Investment Award 2025 at the event. The Chief Adviser handed over the awards.
“Everyone you saw on the stage receiving awards has very powerful crazy ideas and made them happen,” Dr Yunus said.
Dr Yunus briefly shared the stories of 1971 and the sacrificed made for the country’s independence apart from highlighting the difficulties that the country faced in 1974 due to “famine” throughout the country
“1974 is the year that we cannot forget, people died of hunger and there was a famine throughout the country,” he said, adding, “If you take that journey from 1974 to 2025, it is an amazing journey…. Bangladesh came a long way in a short period of time.”
The Bangladesh Investment Summit-2025 is seen as a milestone event, reinforcing the country’s commitment to economic progress, investment-friendly policies, and long-term growth.
Baroness Rosie Winterton, UK's Trade Envoy to Bangladesh, Óscar García Maceiras, CEO of Inditex and Apex Footwear Limited Managing Director Syed Nasim Manzur spoke as the government wanted to know foreign and local investors’ views on the investment front.
Advisers to the interim government, including Finance Adviser Dr Salahuddin Ahmed, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), among others, joined the inaugural event.
SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also joined the event with Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi welcoming all.
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