Banking & Financial Services

Despite commendable progress in the social and economic inclusion of women in Bangladesh, there remain significant gaps in women’s – Labor force participation Entrepreneurship Economic autonomy Female financial inclusion can have cross-cutting effects, improving gender equity in all areas. Accessible, affordable, and appropriately designed financial products are key to creating opportunities for women and empowering […]

Going up the Ladder: From Least Developed Country to a Developing Country Bangladesh is set to graduate from its status as a Least Developed Country (LDC) in November 2026. After 46 years of being enlisted in the category, the country has met all three criteria as assessed triennially by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) of the United Nations, […]

The global economy has been undergoing turbulent times over the last couple of years, spearheaded by the pandemic-induced slowdown in 2020 and the resulting supply chain disruptions wrought about by travel restrictions and lockdowns. While the pandemic has receded—facilitated by the invention, mass production, and distribution of vaccines in record time—a number of geopolitical challenges have disrupted economic recovery. The advent of […]

This letter was first published in the Bimonthly Newsletter of September 2022 Dear Friends and Patrons: The global economy has been undergoing turbulent times over the last couple of years, spearheaded by the pandemic-induced slowdown in 2020 and the resulting supply chain disruptions wrought about by travel restrictions and lockdowns. While the pandemic has receded—facilitated […]

The “Building Skills for Unemployed and Underemployed Labor” (B-SkillFUL) program is a Swisscontact project, funded by the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh. LightCastle Partners, one of the Business Development Services (BDS) providers of the B-SkillFUL program, hosted a day-long Corporate Connect Event for MSMEs in Gulshan 1, Dhaka on the 7th of September, 2022. A […]

Despite significant socio-economic developments, Bangladesh still remains to have less than 1% of GDP allocation for the healthcare sector. While public spending increases at a rate slower than the growing demand, how can we attract more private funding into the Healthcare sector? Public Healthcare Sector Bangladesh has made significant socio-economic developments in recent years, with […]

Over the last decade, Bangladeshi Startups have raised over US$800Mn investments, spearheading the economy and creating 1.5Mn+ direct and indirect employment opportunities while positively impacting the citizens’ day-to-day lives. In the first half of 2022, Bangladeshi startups raised over US$90Mn. But what will drive the country’s startup ecosystem to the next height? When will we […]

Impact investment is any investment made with the intent to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact, alongside a financial return. The global impact investment industry, totaling USD 715 billion, has grown in depth and sophistication over the last decade. As countries worldwide lean towards a values-oriented approach, Bangladesh has been shaping its own trajectory […]

Impact investment is any investment made with the intent to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact, alongside a financial return. As Bangladesh approaches its middle-income status by 2026, enterprises and other stakeholders anticipate a shift away from mainstream financial instruments for development. Donors are also increasingly transitioning towards blended finance as an approach that accelerates the […]

Bangladesh’s overall financial inclusion increased by 56.3% between 2011 to 2018, driven by strong policy support from the government, initiatives by the private sector, and involvement by the multilateral development partners. For equitable economic growth and poverty reduction, it is essential to increase access and usage of innovative financial products and services. Giving underprivileged groups financial access […]

Over the last decade, the payments landscape in Bangladesh has undergone a structural shift. With the change in consumer behavior, the landscape is becoming digital —moving towards contactless and cashless transactions. Meanwhile, COVID-19 has accelerated the growth of the digital payments landscape. A Promising Landscape Fuelled By A Growing Economy The Bangladesh economy has withstood […]

Covid-19-induced economic distress has added to existing problems such as lack of access to finance, non-tailored financial products, absence of capacity development, poor market linkage, absence of skilled labor, and lack of an export market. According to the Asian Development Bank (RRP Sector Assessment, ADB): The SMEs in Bangladesh account for 70 to 80% of […]

Fueled by (i) the worst (two-long years dragged) pandemic in a century, (ii) Russia’s disastrous attack on Ukraine, (iii) US Fed tightening reducing global liquidity — all in all, it has imbalanced global geo-political relations, causing economic slowdown risks and supply chain disruptions for food, fertilizer, and energy. How will this impact global startup investments in Bangladesh? The Macroeconomic Uncertainty Bangladesh’s […]

State of Affairs Amidst the growing concern of rampant inflation permeating through major aspects of daily expenses and Bangladesh Bank devaluating the Taka against the US Dollar, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal unveiled the National Budget for FY 2022 – 23. The budget proposed a total expenditure of BDT 6.78 trillion, total revenue and foreign grants of BDT […]

The Coronavirus Pandemic has taken a hefty toll on the world’s economies. Prolonged lockdowns, uncertainty about the future, and loss of lives, accumulated as ingredients for a depressed economic outlook. Consequently, this resulted in a sharp fall in global consumer spending of USD 3.3 trillion , a distressed supply chain , rising global food prices, and expansionary policies by almost all governments […]