Market Intelligence

2024 Bangladesh Project Seminar (KOTRA): Korean Company Entry Strategies

2024 KOTRA Project Seminar Overview

The 2024 Bangladesh Project Seminar is a seminar hosted by KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) Dhaka Trade Office for Korean companies. It presents promising projects in Bangladesh's infrastructure, energy, and ICT sectors and shares Korean company market entry strategies.

The seminar brought together Bangladesh government officials (Roads and Highways Division, Power Division, ICT Division), multilateral financial institutions (ADB, World Bank), the Korean Embassy, and the Korea Exim Bank to share project intelligence and entry support options. With 50+ Korean construction, plant, and ICT companies attending, 30+ B2B matching consultations conducted, and a promising pipeline of $10B+ identified, the event provides EDCF $500M+ and KOICA F/S linkage opportunities to strengthen Korean companies' Bangladesh bid competitiveness.

50+
Participating Companies
Korean construction, energy, ICT
8
Presentations
Government, institutions, companies
30+
B2B Matching
Local partner consultations
$10B+
Pipeline
3 sectors
$500M+
EDCF Pipeline
2025–2027
5
Priority Projects
High Korean fit
5
Supporting Institutions
KOTRA, Embassy, KEXIM, etc.
$800M+
Award Target
2025 annual

Key Presentation Content

2024 KOTRA Seminar Presentation Program
OrderPresenterTopicScaleNotes
1RHD Director GeneralRoads and bridge pipeline$5B+N1 and 5 major bridge projects
2PGCB DirectorPower transmission plan$2B+Including 765kV extra-high voltage
3BPDB Division ChiefRenewable energy roadmap$3B+Solar and wind 2GW
4ICT Division Director GeneralDigital Bangladesh$1B+BSMSN Smart City
5ADB RepresentativeMultilateral financing procurement guide-ICB and tender procedures
6Korean EmbassyBilateral cooperation status-EDCF and KOICA status
7KEXIM Team LeaderEDCF project introduction$500M+2025 pipeline
8KOTRA DirectorEntry support programs-Market prospecting and matching services

2023 vs. 2024 Seminar Performance Comparison

The 2024 KOTRA Seminar grew in both scale and results compared to 2023. Participating companies increased from 40 to 50+ (+25%), and B2B matching consultations grew from 20 to 30+ (+50%). The promising pipeline expanded from $7B+ to $10B+ (+43%), with the EDCF pipeline growing from $300M+ to $500M+ — the biggest benefit for Korean companies.

2023 KOTRA Seminar
Participating Companies40
B2B Matching20 sessions
Pipeline$7B+
EDCF Pipeline$300M+
2024 KOTRA Seminar (Growth)
Participating Companies50+ (+25%)
B2B Matching30+ (+50%)
Pipeline$10B+ (+43%)
EDCF Pipeline$500M+ (+67%)

Promising Project Highlights

Infrastructure Sector Promising Projects
N1 Highway$3B+ (4→8 lane expansion)
MRT Lines 2 & 4$4B+ (new lines)
Bridge Package$1B+ (10+ sites)
Smart City$1.5B (BSMSN)
Energy & ICT Sector
Solar$2B+ (2GW, GCF linkage)
765kV Transmission$800M+ (extra-high voltage)
LNG FSRU$800M+ (infrastructure)
ICT Infrastructure$500M+ (Digital Bangladesh)

Participation Strategy by Company Size

KOTRA Seminar Utilization Strategy by Korean Company Type
Company TypeTarget ProjectsFinancing LinkagePartner StrategyExpected Awards
Large ContractorsN1, MRT, 765kVEDCF, JICALocal construction firm JV$200M+/project
Mid-sized Energy CompaniesSolar, ESS, LNGADB, GCFEquipment localization$100M+/project
Mid-sized IT CompaniesSmart City, ITSKOICA, EDCFICT Division MOU$50M+/project
SME Equipment SuppliersEDCF equipmentEDCF 70%+ conditionSubcontractor to large firms$5M–$20M
Engineering FirmsF/S, PMC, supervisionKOICA F/SKEXIM consulting$2M–$10M

Entry Support Programs

01
KOTRA Market Prospecting Missions
By joining KOTRA Dhaka's market prospecting missions, companies can directly meet Bangladesh procuring entities and local partners. The missions are held 2–3 times per year and provide customized schedules tailored to each company's entry needs. Benefits tailored for SMEs include subsidized participation fees, interpretation support, and accommodation assistance.
02
EDCF Project Linkage
Connect Korean companies to the EDCF pipeline ($500M+). Korea Exim Bank proactively shares EDCF project intelligence, and securing Korean equipment and materials utilization requirements of 70%+ strengthens bid competitiveness. Among the 2025 new EDCF approval target of $350M+, Smart City, railway, and climate sectors are primary focuses.
03
KOICA Advance Feasibility Studies
Korean companies participate in KOICA feasibility studies (F/S) to become involved from the earliest project stages. When an F/S result converts into a full EDCF implementation project, Korean companies secure the most advantageous position. The KSP → KOICA F/S → EDCF 3-stage linkage model is currently being applied to the Karnaphuli Road and BSMSN.
04
B2B Matching and Networking
30+ B2B matching consultations are conducted after the seminar. Direct meetings with Bangladeshi construction companies, engineering firms, and equipment distributors help identify local partners and build the foundation for JV formation. A 51:49 JV structure, when applied, simultaneously secures localization bonus points and tax benefits.

Seminar Utilization Flow

KOTRA Seminar Utilization Flow
Attend Seminar
Information gathering
B2B Matching
Partner discovery
EDCF & KOICA
Support linkage
Bid Preparation
PQ and proposals
Award Target
$800M+ goal

The 2024 KOTRA Seminar is a key networking event for Korean companies entering Bangladesh's infrastructure market, serving as the optimal platform for capturing EDCF and KOICA linkage opportunities and identifying local partners. Use it as the first step toward achieving the 2025 award target of $800M+.

2024 H1 Infra ReportReview the 2024 first-half infrastructure report
EIPP Approval Committee ReportReview the EIPP approval process and incentives
2024 Final Translation ReportReview the 2024 H2 final report Korean translation
2025 Bangladesh Economic OverviewUnderstand the economic environment underpinning 2025 infrastructure investment
KOTRASeminar2024ProjectPipelineMarketEntry
2024 Bangladesh Project Seminar (KOTRA): Korean Company Entry Strategies | Dhaka Trade Portal