Desk News || Bangladesh has ranked highest among South Asian countries in foreign direct investment (FDI) growth in 2025. FDI inflows into the country rose by approximately 45% compared to the previous year, reaching USD 1.78 billion during this period.This information comes from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) "World Investment Report 2026."According to the report, FDI inflows into Bangladesh stood at USD 1.23 billion in 2024, rising to USD 1.78 billion in 2025. Despite a challenging global investment climate, this growth reflects the increasing confidence of international investors in Bangladesh's economy.The report was released at a time when global investment flows remain uneven due to geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and high financing costs.Against this backdrop, the report notes that Bangladesh's strong FDI growth among South Asian countries is particularly significant.Although FDI's share in total gross fixed capital formation remains relatively low, the report states that domestic investment continues to play a vital role as one of the main drivers of Bangladesh's growth model.UNCTAD reported that developing Asia retained its position as the world's leading investment destination among developing regions in 2025, attracting a total of USD 644 billion in FDI during the period.Bangladesh's achievement reflects the broader regional trend of sustained investor interest in Asian economies.According to the report, after two consecutive years of decline, global FDI rose by 6% in 2025 to reach USD 1.6 trillion.Investment in digital infrastructure, manufacturing, energy transition technology, and other strategic sectors played a key role in driving this recovery.The report states that Bangladesh has considerable further potential to attract foreign investment in manufacturing, services, infrastructure, and technology-driven industries.According to analysts, the country's large domestic market, competitive workforce, strategic geographic location, and ongoing economic reforms have laid a strong foundation for future FDI growth.With a GDP exceeding half a trillion US dollars and continued progress in industrialization and connectivity, Bangladesh is increasingly gaining prominence on the international stage as a promising destination for long-term investment.