The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited in Bangladesh recently organized an event titled "HSBC Economic Outlook: A Perspective on Bangladesh," aimed at providing insights into global and Asian market developments and sharing perspectives on Bangladesh's economic landscape.

Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The event featured a keynote presentation by Frederic Neumann, Chief Asia Economist and Co-Head of Global Research Asia at HSBC, who shared valuable insights on the latest macroeconomic outlook.

Dr. Rubana Huq, Managing Director of Mohammadi Group and Vice-Chancellor of Asian University for Women, along with Zaved Akhtar, Chairman and Managing Director of Unilever Bangladesh and President of the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), were key speakers at the event.

The event also saw the presence of Md Mahbub ur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Bangladesh, and Gerard Haughey, Country Head of Wholesale Banking at HSBC Bangladesh, among other distinguished guests, including clients, stakeholders, embassy representatives, regulators, and government officials.

During his presentation, Frederic Neumann highlighted the significant foreign direct investments flowing into Asia and emphasized Bangladesh's potential to capitalize on this opportunity. HSBC projects a GDP growth of 5.9% for the upcoming fiscal year and 6.3% for the subsequent fiscal year. Neumann also underscored Bangladesh's resilience in the face of global uncertainties and its bright economic outlook, with growth expected to accelerate further.

The event featured an interactive question and answer session, followed by a panel discussion comprising Salman F Rahman, Frederic Neumann, Dr. Rubana Huq, Zaved Akhtar, and moderated by Md Mahbub ur Rahman. The panel discussed growth prospects and strategies for advancing Bangladesh's economy, addressing both internal and external challenges.

Salman F Rahman highlighted the importance of domestic revenue mobilization, tax system modernization, and export diversification to address economic challenges. Frederic Neumann reiterated Bangladesh's competitiveness, especially in the ready-made garments sector, and emphasized the role of easing inflation in supporting household spending.

Md Mahbub ur Rahman expressed optimism about Bangladesh's economic trajectory, citing skilled workforce, domestic demand surge, and rebounding remittances as key drivers of progress. Gerard Haughey reaffirmed HSBC's commitment to empowering clients with global research insights to capitalize on emerging business opportunities.

The panel discussion concluded by acknowledging Bangladesh's challenges while highlighting positive developments and opportunities, underscoring the importance of staying abreast of market dynamics for sustainable growth.