Bangladesh today took a landmark step in its economic transformation, as the Orange Economy Summit 2026: Dhaka edition convened at the Dhaka Stock Exchange to chart a practical roadmap to mobilize capital for long-term, inclusive and climate-resilient growth backed by US$100 million earmarked for Bangladesh through the Orange Climate Fund, a one billion dollar blended finance platform investing in climate-resilient and inclusive growth across the Global South. Hosted by Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) in partnership with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI), the Summit brought together senior government officials, regulators, financial institutions, corporates, development partners, and global market leaders around a shared agenda: deepening Bangladesh’s financial markets to unlock global inclusive capital for long-term, resilient economic growth.

Held at a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s economic transition, the Summit focused on strengthening the country’s Orange capital ecosystem and positioning Bangladesh within the growing global Orange Movement, a quiet revolution making inclusive capital markets the norm across the globe. Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality, the Movement mobilizes capital to empower women, girls, and gender minorities as leaders in climate action, sustainable peace, and economic prosperity. Through interconnected pillars of capital, policy, and data, it is mobilizing US$15 billion by 2030.

The Movement gave rise to Orange Bonds, one of the fastest-growing thematic capital market instruments, alongside Orange Sukuk, loans, and related instruments that channel capital into sectors from clean energy to financial inclusion. Beyond individual products, the framework establishes the standards, transparency, and accountability that enable capital to flow into investable, resilient markets. Orange instruments have supported inclusive growth and economic resilience in markets including Indonesia, Japan, and Vietnam, and Bangladesh holds a central position in the Movement’s long-term vision for Orange Capital in South Asia.

Bangladesh enters this phase with an established foundation. Over more than a decade, IIX has mobilized US$18 million (BDT 220 crores) into the country, investing directly in enterprises across agritech, healthcare, clean energy, and financial services, connecting them to over 1,300 investors worldwide, and strengthening their governance and investment readiness. Companies including SOLshare, iFarmer, and MedEasy have earned the Orange Seal™, a verified performance standard for climate action and gender equality recognized by international investors. The Summit built on the most significant milestone to date: the country’s first domestic USD 12.8M (BDT 158.50 Crore) Orange Bond issuance in 2026 by SAJIDA Foundation, a proof point that Orange-aligned instruments can work in Bangladesh, and explored concrete pathways to mobilize capital into strategically critical value chains including Ready Made Garments (RMG), Agriculture and Agro-processing, and Energy Transition.

Delivering the opening keynote, Prof. Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and CEO of IIX, set out the strategic need for transforming Bangladesh’s financial markets into engines of inclusion and resilience for sustained growth – and laid out IIX’s long-term commitment to making that happen.

“Almost fifty years ago, Bangladesh etched its name in history as the birthplace of financial inclusion, one of the first nations to ask who financial systems are actually supposed to serve. IIX has been building on that legacy for over a decade, mobilizing US$18 million into Bangladeshi enterprises, connecting them to over 1,300 investors worldwide, and supporting them through Orange Seal certification to the country’s first Orange Bond. The next phase is the Orange Climate Fund, a one billion dollar blended finance platform investing in climate-resilient and inclusive growth across the Global South, with US$100 million earmarked for Bangladesh to invest in critical sectors such as RMG, energy, financial services, and climate resilience. This capital will do more than support growth sectors; it will attract international investors, deepen capital markets, and strengthen Bangladesh’s long-term economic resilience until Bangladesh stands as a leading Orange economy in South Asia”

Welcoming participants to the Dhaka Stock Exchange, Ms. Nuzhat Anwar, Managing Director, DSE, stated:

“Bangladesh is entering a phase where the depth and sophistication of our financial markets will increasingly determine the pace of our progress. Deepening the bond market and expanding sustainable finance instruments are not simply market-development objectives; they are strategic economic priorities. The opportunity now is to build a broader ecosystem that attracts both domestic and international investors. The Dhaka Stock Exchange is committed to supporting this evolution by encouraging the issuance of Orange Bonds, working with partners across the ecosystem to build the Orange Capital value chain, and facilitating the development of new capital market products that meet the needs of a modern economy. The future of Bangladesh’s economy will be shaped not only by the strength of its enterprises, but by the strength of the financial markets that support them.”

Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman, Deputy Governor, Bangladesh Bank, remarked:

“Bangladesh’s next phase of economic development will depend not only on the performance of its industries, but also on the strength and sophistication of the financial systems that support them. As the economy becomes more diversified and globally competitive, expanding access to long-term capital and deepening domestic capital markets will be critical. Initiatives such as the Orange Movement can help channel investment toward national priorities by promoting transparency, strengthening market confidence, and directing capital into productive, sustainable sectors. By working together to strengthen market foundations and expand access to capital, Bangladesh can build a financial system capable of supporting its long-term economic ambitions.”

A key feature of the Summit was the unveiling of a joint study by IIX and PRI titled “Building the Orange Capital Ecosystem in Bangladesh”. The study makes the case that the fundamentals are already in place: Bangladesh has regulatory momentum, growing capital demand, and portfolios ready for deployment. What is needed now is the market architecture to match, and the Orange Movement™ provides that blueprint for a scalable, accountable, and high-impact financial market, channeling capital toward economic transformation, gender equity, and climate resilience. To get there, the study sets out a four-phase pathway: building the evidence base, activating the ecosystem, mobilizing capital, and ultimately establishing a self-sustaining Orange market for Bangladesh.

The Summit also featured regional experience-sharing on Orange markets by IIX from other emerging economies, with experts from Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asia region sharing first-hand perspectives on how inclusive finance structures, enabling policy environments, and credible impact verification have unlocked capital for inclusive and climate-resilient growth.

The Dhaka Summit marks the first regional edition of the Orange Economy Summit series — a global series of convenings designed to bring Orange principles directly to markets around the world, with each Summit rooted in the economic realities of its host country. Further editions will be announced in the coming months.

Building on this convening, IIX will continue to work with DSE, PRI, and development partners to advance the Orange capital ecosystem and lay the groundwork for sustained institutional investment into Bangladesh’s most critical growth sectors.