News Desk

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman participated in the plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Dalian, China, on June 24, Wednesday, highlighting Bangladesh’s economic prospects, investment opportunities, and commitment to sustainable development before a global audience of policymakers, business leaders, and technology innovators.

The plenary session, titled “Innovating at Scale,” was held at the Dalian International Conference Centre in Liaoning Province. According to Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon, Tarique Rahman attended the event as an invited guest, marking his first participation in a World Economic Forum gathering since assuming office as Prime Minister.

The session was opened by World Economic Forum President and Chief Executive Officer Alois Zwinggi. Several world leaders attended the event, including Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral, Montenegro Prime Minister Milojko Spajic, and Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah.

More than 1,700 representatives from governments, international organizations, businesses, and technology sectors from over 90 countries participated in the conference, which focused on innovation, economic transformation, and global cooperation.

On the sidelines of the plenary session, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held discussions with several heads of government and international leaders on matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral relations. The participating leaders also joined a group photo session during the event.

Officials said the conference provided an important platform for showcasing Bangladesh’s investment climate to leading Chinese investors and global business executives. Participants were briefed on the country’s investment-friendly policies, incentives for foreign investors, and long-term economic development plans.

Earlier on June 23, WEF President and CEO Alois Zwinggi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Dalian International Conference Centre. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including climate resilience, sustainable development, renewable energy, and international cooperation.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s environmental initiatives, Tarique Rahman said the government has introduced tax incentives for solar power generation and set a target of meeting 20 percent of the nation’s total electricity demand through renewable energy sources by 2030.

Zwinggi praised Bangladesh’s efforts in addressing climate challenges and promoting sustainable development. He noted that the Prime Minister’s experience and initiatives in climate action could contribute significantly to global discussions on environmental sustainability.

The WEF chief also observed that Bangladesh’s achievements in climate resilience and sustainable development are likely to attract greater interest from international investors and financial institutions. He assured continued cooperation from the World Economic Forum and said the issues raised by Bangladesh would receive serious consideration.

During the meeting, Zwinggi extended an invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, one of the most prominent global gatherings of political and business leaders.

Dalian, a major port city in northeastern China, is widely regarded as a key business and trade hub in the region. Bangladesh’s participation in the forum is expected to further strengthen economic engagement with global partners while promoting the country’s development agenda on the international stage.