HSBC Chief Asia Economist, Frederic Neumann shares macroeconomic outlook and a perspective on Bangladesh
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited in Bangladesh organised an event on 2 March 2026 titled “Bangladesh and the World: Economic Prospects for 2026 and beyond” highlighting the latest global and Asian market developments and sharing a perspective on Bangladesh. The event featured a keynote presentation by Frederic Neumann, Chief Asia Economist and Co-Head, Global Research Asia, HSBC Global Research, where he shared insights on the latest macroeconomic outlook. Jignesh Ruparel, Chief Financial Officer, HSBC Bangladesh also presented a brief overview of HSBC Group’s latest global results and shared HSBC’s capabilities across the globe, a press release said.
Kausar Alam, FCMA, President, The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) and Md Mahbub ur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bangladesh also spoke on the occasion. The event was attended by Chief Financial Officers, stakeholders and senior officials of local and multinational companies.
During his keynote outlook presentation over Zoom, Frederic Neumann highlighted that, “Bangladesh has emerged with resilience from its challenges over the past few years. HSBC expects Bangladesh’s GDP growth of 5.0% for 2026, and 5.5% for year thereafter. For the calendar year 2026, HSBC forecasts export value growth to be 4.1% for Bangladesh. Remittance inflows continue to rise on a year-on-year basis, amidst growing trust in official money transfer channels. This, together with easing inflation, will support private consumption. With the conclusion of the recent general election, investment by domestic and foreign businesses may begin to pick up modestly, but any acceleration is highly conditional on the new government restoring investor confidence by demonstrating the capacity to reinforce law and order.
Frederic added, Bangladesh is set to graduate from least developed country status in November 2026. This underscores the need to boost export competitiveness by expanding market access and improving governance and infrastructure, among many other things. A slowdown in global consumer demand due to US tariffs remains the greatest economic risk. It is increasingly urgent for Bangladesh to accelerate trade negotiations with the European Union, its largest garment export market. With the formation of the new government following a largely peaceful election, the government now holds a clear political mandate and legitimacy to pursue reforms and provide the stability the population has been seeking. Facing an extensive agenda, the new administration must demonstrate commitment to its promises and address the aspirations of Bangladesh’s young generation. The reset begins.
Frederic also answered taking questions from the audience in an interactive Q&A session.
Jignesh Ruparel, Chief Financial Officer, HSBC Bangladesh shared a presentation with the audience showcasing HSBC’s recently released annual group financial results and its strong capabilities. He highlighted that Group’s 161-year history is firmly rooted in the objective set by HSBC’s founders to establish a bank that would facilitate local and international trade. With it’s footprint now spread over 56 countries and territories worldwide including Bangladesh, HSBC has been connecting its customers to opportunities globally.
Attending the event, Kausar Alam, FCMA, President, ICMAB and CFO of Seven Rings Cement Ltd. said, “The CFO Connect event serves as an opportune initiative by HSBC, offering critical insights into the nation’s evolving macroeconomic trajectory within a global standpoint; Bangladesh’s economy possesses immense latent potential, underpinned by favorable demographic dividends and a resilient private sector that remains the primary catalyst in the country’s pursuit of a trillion-dollar economy by 2040”.
Speaking on the occasion, Md Mahbub ur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bangladesh stated, “HSBC’s strong 2025 performance highlights the power of our global network and the deep trust our clients place in us. As Bangladesh enters a pivotal new chapter of reform and growth, our role is clear; to connect local ambition with global opportunity. Through initiatives like CFO Connect, we aim to facilitate a platform for Senior Finance practitioners of Bangladesh to share insights and learn from one another ensuring we all are well-equipped to navigate an ever-changing economic landscape.”
