Background Behind the Establishment of the EIPP
The Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP) is a comprehensive initiative launched in 2020 by the Korean government to support Bangladesh's economic structural transformation. It is led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Office for Government Policy Coordination, with three implementing pillars: KDI for policy advisory, KOTRA for investment promotion, and the Export-Import Bank of Korea for financing support. On the Bangladesh side, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) act as the counterpart institutions. A key motivation at launch was to prepare Bangladesh's industrial base ahead of its scheduled 2026 LDC graduation.
Four Program Pillars
EIPP is implemented across four pillars: policy advisory, investment promotion, infrastructure development, and workforce development. Each pillar is executed independently while remaining tightly linked, pursuing a positive cycle from policy improvements to better investment conditions, infrastructure expansion, firm entry, and ultimately job creation.
| Pillar | Lead Agency | Core Activities | Scale | KPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Policy Advisory | KDI | Investment climate diagnostics, regulatory reform recommendations | USD 15M | Recommendation uptake rate |
| Investment Promotion | KOTRA | Investor roadshows, consulting, buyer matching | USD 10M | Investment amount |
| Infrastructure Development | Export-Import Bank of Korea | EDCF loans, economic zone infrastructure | USD 400M+ | Project completion |
| Workforce Development | KOICA | Technical training centers, vocational education, scholarships | USD 75M | Graduates trained |
Key Achievements in 2020-2024
Meaningful performance has accumulated over five years since launch, including 48 policy advisory cases (32 adopted), USD 280M in investment mobilization, 8 infrastructure projects initiated, and 1,200 trained professionals. The program's continuity during the foreign exchange stress episode in 2022 also demonstrated the strong commitment of both governments.
Future Direction (2025-2030)
From 2025 onward, EIPP is expected to expand into three new areas: digital transformation, green energy, and smart industrial parks. In anticipation of the loss of preference tariffs linked to LDC graduation in 2026, the program will place greater emphasis on industrial competitiveness, and the overall investment plan is expected to grow beyond USD 500M.