Macroeconomic adjustments undertaken in recent months and robust economic fundamentals will pave the way for growth to rebound Bangladesh’s economy over the coming year, observed Frederic Neumann, chief Asia economist and co-head of global research Asia of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited.
’Bangladesh is already well on its way to recovery. Macroeconomic adjustments undertaken in recent months, and robust economic fundamentals, should pave the way for growth to rebound over the coming year. A rapid implementation of reforms would help to speed up the process further,’ he said.
Frederic Neumann said this at an economic outlook webinar titled ‘Navigating Bangladesh’s Crossroads’ organised by HSBC Bangladesh recently.
The webinar highlighted the latest global and Asian market developments and sharing perspectives on Bangladesh.
Key speaker Frederic Neumann shared his insights on the latest macroeconomic outlook.
Based on the latest HSBC global research report on Bangladesh ‘Regaining balance – Bangladesh looks to recovery’, Neumann said that even though Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate had been set to a revised 4.5 per cent for FY2024-25, the country would rebound to 7.1 per cent in the following year.
This growth will be largely driven by exports and remittances, both of which are showing positive signs despite the ongoing challenges in the global economy, he added.
Neumann highlighted that the garment sector, which accounts for 83 per cent of the country’s exports, was expected to grow by the demand from international markets.
At the same time, imports, which had been strained by rising global energy prices, are now stabilising reflecting a recovery in domestic demand and easing cost pressures, he pointed out.
He also mentioned that remittances were anticipated to grow driven by improved employment conditions in key overseas markets.
This rise in remittances will not only support household consumption but play a significant role in sustaining the broader economic recovery, he said.
However, Neumann also noted that while these factors were promising, challenges remained, particularly with inflation.
‘This will continue to affect both household spending and business costs. Structural reforms in the banking sector and efforts to control inflation will be essential for unlocking Bangladesh’s full economic potential and ensuring long-term, sustainable growth,’ he added.
The event was also attended by Md Mahbub ur Rahman, chief executive officer, HSBC Bangladesh and Gerard Haughey, country head of wholesale banking, HSBC Bangladesh. Almost 300 clients and stakeholders were also in attendance at the virtual event.