The Emerging Bengal Tiger: Opportunities and Challenges for MNCs and Policymakers

Abstract

Bangladesh has been one of the fastest growing economies over the last two decades, with economic growth averaging over 6%, per capita income crossing the World Bank’s (lower) middle-income country threshold, and the criteria for graduating from the UN’s Least Developed Country (LDC) list fulfilled. However, regulatory inefficiency, high corruption, and poor infrastructure still create major challenges for businesses wanting to operate in the country. We analyze the lessons that Bangladesh’s sustained economic growth and development have for policymakers. We also generate insights for MNCs on how to operate in this rapidly-growing, but challenging, emerging market.