Photo : Collected

DHAKA, June 16, 2026 (BSS) - Financial experts and policymakers at a high-
level summit today underscored the urgent need to build a strong Orange 
Capital Ecosystem to support inclusive and climate-resilient growth as the 
country advances toward LDC graduation and its ambition of becoming a 
trillion-dollar economy.

The "Orange Economy Summit 2026: Dhaka" was held at the Dhaka Stock Exchange 
(DSE), jointly organised by the DSE, the Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), 
and the Policy Research Institute (PRI), said a press release.

While speaking as the chief guest, Bangladesh Bank (BB) Deputy Governor Dr. 
Md. Habibur Rahman highlighted that innovative financial instruments such as 
Orange Bonds are becoming increasingly important for financing climate 
resilience, women's empowerment, and inclusive development.

He described the issuance of Bangladesh's first Orange Zero Coupon Bond by 
Sajida Foundation as a milestone and reaffirmed the commitment of Bangladesh 
Bank to support efforts aimed at attracting US$ 100 million in orange 
investments by 2030.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Impact Investment Exchange 
Professor Durreen Shahnaz announced plans to mobilize $100 million in 
Bangladesh under IIX's global $1 billion Orange Climate Fund. 

She said the broader "Orange Movement" seeks to channel $10 billion globally 
by 2030 to strengthen inclusive capital markets.

She identified key sectors such as ready-made garments (RMG), agriculture, 
energy transition, and financial services as high-potential areas for orange 
investments.

DSE Managing Director (MD) Nuzhat Anwar reiterated the DSE's commitment to 
advancing sustainable finance and aligning with international standards, 
noting that such platforms are essential for strengthening regulatory 
frameworks and improving awareness of emerging financing instruments.

Delivering the keynote titled "Building Orange Capital Ecosystem in 
Bangladesh," PRI Chief Economist Dr. Ashikur Rahman stressed the importance 
of innovative financing mechanisms to address structural economic challenges. 

He noted that while green and social bonds have laid an important foundation, 
targeted policy support is now required to attract global capital through a 
dedicated Orange Capital market framework.

The summit also featured a session titled "Experience Sharing from Emerging 
Markets", where international experts from IIX shared global best practices 
in inclusive finance and their potential application in Bangladesh.

The event brought together government officials, regulators, financial 
institutions, and local and international experts to explore the role of 
capital markets in achieving long-term sustainable economic transformation.