A new chapter for investment in LDCs: DFCD in Bangladesh

Across the globe, least developed countries (LDCs) are increasingly being recognized not just for the challenges they face, but for the potential they hold. These countries are home to growing entrepreneurial ecosystems, vital natural resources, and communities actively seeking climate-resilient solutions. But realizing this potential takes more than capital. It requires trust, long-term commitment, and partnerships that are willing to work through complexity. This is where the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) seeks to make a meaningful difference—by helping de-risk and unlock investment where it’s most needed, but often hardest to reach.

Bangladesh reflects this intersection clearly. It is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, but also one of the most ambitious in addressing it. The government is working to improve the investment climate, businesses are innovating in key sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, textiles and digital economy and a new narrative is starting to take shape. It is within this context that the SNV DFCD team conducted a targeted outreach programme during the week of the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025.

Building on local solutions

DFCD’s current engagement in Bangladesh builds on SNV’s longstanding presence and partnerships. In the past, with support from SNV through DFCD, Ispahani Agro Limited developed an investment proposal to introduce and scale climate-resilient seeds and bio-pesticides through its ‘One Stop Agriculture’ platform, aiming to strengthen smallholder resilience in drought- and salinity-affected regions. SNV also supported ACI Agrolink in shaping a business proposition focused on climate-resilient black tiger shrimp value chain development in the Ganges Delta.

Connecting with businesses ready to scale climate solutions

Throughout the week of the Bangladesh Investment Summit, the SNV DFCD team met with a range of local companies as part of their efforts to identify businesses to support in their derisking and investment journey. These included businesses working in the seeds, animal feeds, rice-husk based carbon, fruits processing and banking sectors where innovation is already happening, but often without the support needed to scale or attract investment.

Many of these enterprises shared a common challenge: bridging the gap between strong ideas around climate adaptative solutions and investment readiness. Through the DFCD Origination Facility, SNV helps close this gap by offering technical assistance and financial structuring support, enabling businesses to attract further investment and scale.

DFCD, SNV and FMO at the Bangladesh Investment Summit

The DFCD team also took part in a summit session focused on Finance in Agriculture, an area where the need for climate adaptation financing is urgent but often underserved. Alex Downs, SNV’s Regional Business & Investment Expert, spoke on the panel. “DFCD is committed to investing in agriculture, agro-forestry, and water projects in Bangladesh, recognizing the significant climate risks in the region. This makes Bangladesh a vital investment opportunity for DFCD.”

Also participating in the session was Rik Recourt, Senior Associate at FMO – the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank. “As FMO, we look for impactful agribusiness financing opportunities across the value chain in Bangladesh,” he said. “In doing so, we actively collaborate with SNV. Particularly for the DFCD program, they are our local on-the-ground partner that supports earlier stage leads using grants and technical assistance, and helps in the initial assessment of reputation and commitment to E&S standards.”

The involvement of two members of the DFCD consortium, SNV and FMO, reflects a shared commitment to supporting Bangladesh in its efforts to foster climate-smart development. With over 600 participants from 42 countries, this year’s summit marked a shift in both tone and ambition, and Bangladesh is actively working to create the conditions for resilient, long-term investment.

During the summit, SNV DFCD team also had one-on-one sessions with important ministries and government departments including the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Bangladesh Bank, and exchanged thoughts on some key investment climate and regulatory requirements for directing foreign investments into the country's key economic sectors, especially on agro-processing. The team also participated in a B2B matchmaking session with selected companies operating in the agriculture, fisheries, and Agritech space.

Steady steps, lasting impact

The path to unlocking sustainable investment in LDCs isn’t easy, but events like the Bangladesh Investment Summit show that progress is possible when different actors come together around a shared goal. For DFCD, this means continuing to support businesses to de-risk and access investment, and building relationships that can lead to long-term climate resilience.

The interest and engagement at this year’s summit are encouraging signs. As new leads are developed and partnerships explored, DFCD remains focused on where it can add the most value: supporting local entrepreneurs, building trust, and helping shape a more sustainable and inclusive future—one step at a time.