B Mirror Report:  Bangladesh and Indonesia are moving to strengthen bilateral investment ties, with growing interest from Indonesian investors in the retail, agriculture and energy sectors, officials said following a high-level meeting in Dhaka on Monday.

The discussions took place at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) office, where Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Listyowati met BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury to explore ways to expand investment cooperation and identify practical areas for joint collaboration.

During the meeting, the ambassador said Indonesia is keen to contribute to Bangladesh’s economic growth and employment generation through increased investment. She also highlighted the rising confidence of Indonesian businesses in Bangladesh’s market potential.

One of the most significant examples of that confidence is the entry of Indonesia’s leading retail chain Alfamart into Bangladesh. The company plans to launch 50 outlets across the country by the end of 2026 and aims to expand to more than 5,000 outlets over the next five to 10 years.

The meeting also focused on investment opportunities in the agriculture and energy sectors. Officials believe Indonesian expertise and investment in these areas could open up new opportunities for Bangladesh’s economy.

BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury outlined the priorities of a joint 180-day action plan prepared by investment promotion agencies. He noted that Indonesia’s experience in utilizing unused government assets through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models could offer valuable lessons for Bangladesh.

Stakeholders said the latest investment initiatives are expected to deepen economic relations between the two countries while creating new opportunities for business expansion and job creation in Bangladesh.