AT Capital

Beyond Remittances – A strategy to unlock the potential of the Bangladeshi Diaspora - 24 November 2009

In this paper, we review the extensive research on leveraging Diaspora networks in different countries around the world to have a clearer sense of how to develop a more effective strategy for Bangladesh.We also outline the initiatives taken in Bangladesh to date in encouraging NRB investment and knowledge flows. We also review the role of governments of both the host and home countries, donor/multilateral agencies in encouraging the development of DKNs.The impact of the overseas Chinese, Indian and more recently Vietnamese communities in their respective economic transformations in the last 15 years cannot be overestimated, especially in the technology/outsourcing sector in the case of the India and FDI in the case of China.Bangladesh has been one of the most successful nations in recent years in growing its overseas remittances which are set to reach around $ 10-12bn in 2008.However, Bangladesh it has been much less effective in leveraging its diaspora in terms of knowledge and skills transfers and improving its global commercial interface.

Agriculture comprising crops, forests, fisheries and livestock accounts for more than 20% of GDP amd employs over 63% of the workforce of Bangladesh.The agriculture sector has a large, underserved domestic market that provides opportunities for many investments along the value chain.There is a huge gap between the domestic demand and domestic supply of seeds and fertilizers that can be filled by large-scale investments.Only 17% of the domestic demand for milk is met by domestic supply.There is a scope for sizable milk production by importing high-yield breeds of cattle.Only a few companies are exporting vegetables and potatoes to the Middle East, and European Markets. A number of companies are looking for joint venture partners to expand their operations.Innovation opportunities exist in the areas of shrimp production in paddy fields, growing strawberries and high-yielding crops.

Climate Change & Alternative Energy: Challenges & Opportunities – 19 October 2008

Tackling climate change will undoubtedly be the major challenge of both our lifetimes and that of future generations. Global climate change, driven largely by the combustion of fossil fuels and by rapid deforestation, is a growing threat to populations in developing and industrialized nations alike. Significant harm from climate change is already occurring, and a further negative impact on the planet is a certainty. Given the frequency of floods, cyclones and storm surges in Bangladesh coupled with low elevation levels, clearly it is one of the world’s most vulnerable country’s to the impact of climate change. The challenge now is to keep climate change from becoming a catastrophe. The transition to a low-carbon economy is necessary to mitigate the challenges of climate change; a transition that may also offer significant new opportunities across a wide range of industries and services. Markets for low-carbon energy products such as renewable energy are likely to be worth at least $500bn per year by 2050. In this report, we discuss the causes and consequences of Climate Change, macro and policy issues around the current debate, implications both Globally and domestically, and consider investment opportunities in Alternative Energy in Bangladesh.

The post-MFA era has witnessed Bangladesh emerge as one of the most competitive destinations for clothing manufacturing in the world. From a modest base of $3.5m exports in 1981, Bangladesh’s textile and clothing exports were worth USD 9.98 billion in the year to June 2008, a 15.8% increase from the prior year, accounting for 80% of exports and 10.5% of GDP. In our report we provide a sector overview, an assessment of key dynamics and critically evaluate Bangladesh’s comparative advantage in a Global context and assess challenges and opportunities for investment.

Bangladesh: Growth, Investment, Opportunity -- 17 April 2008

The Bangladesh paradox has been one of surprising economic resilience in the face of natural disasters, poor governance and political volatility. In effect, an entrepreneurial private sector base has compensated for a less supportive macro political environment. The aim of this paper is to provide global investors with an outline on the challenges and prospects for the Bangladesh economy. A large portion of this report is dedicated to our review of industry profiles and sector reviews, reflecting our belief in the need to focus on specific investment ideas.

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