Resources

2023 GPP Invited Procuring Agencies: Bangladesh Agency Profiles

2023 GPP: Directory of Eight Invited Procuring Entities

This document provides detailed profiles of the eight Bangladeshi government institutions invited to the 2023 Global Procurement Partnership (GPP) forum. These are core agencies that control more than 80% of Bangladesh's public infrastructure procurement, with combined annual tender volume exceeding $5B. Each agency's procurement system, major projects, and Korean company participation history are summarized as a practical reference for GPP consultation preparation.

In the Bangladeshi public procurement market, MDB loan projects funded by ADB, the World Bank, and JICA account for roughly 40% of the total, with the remaining 60% executed through Bangladesh government budget (GOB) projects. The e-GP (electronic procurement) system conversion rate has reached 78%, enabling real-time tender monitoring, and Korean company entry opportunities continue to expand.

8 institutions
Invited Procuring Entities
Infrastructure, Energy, ICT
$5B+
Annual Combined Procurement
As of 2022
23 projects
Korean Participation Record
Past 5 years cumulative
120 cases
Consultations
2-day 1:1 matching
40%
MDB-Supported Share
ADB · WB · JICA loans
78%
e-GP Coverage Rate
Electronic procurement coverage
BPDB
Largest Procuring Entity
$1.2B annual procurement
Korea Engineering Co $120M
Korea's Largest Contract
BPDB power plant

Power Sector: PGCB · BPDB

The power sector was the most active area at the GPP consultation, accounting for 40 of the 120 cases (33%). PGCB (Power Grid Company of Bangladesh) is dedicated to transmission and issues tenders for substations and transmission lines worth about $800M annually. BPDB (Bangladesh Power Development Board), the largest power utility handling generation and distribution, procures about $1.2B annually. Bangladesh's goal of expanding generation capacity to 40GW by 2030 keeps sustained entry opportunities open for Korean companies.

Power Sector Procuring Entity Profiles
ItemPGCBBPDB
Established19961972
Employees4,50028,000
Annual Procurement$800M$1.2B
Key Procurement AreasSubstations, transmission lines, SCADALNG generation, smart meters, distribution
Procurement MethodICB · ADB guidelinesICB · World Bank · local procedures
Korean ReferencesKorea Cable $45M contractKorea Engineering Co $120M power plant
2023 GPP Consultations18 cases22 cases
2024 Key Tenders8 × 345kV substations100MW LNG power EPC

Infrastructure Sector: LGED · BWDB · BR

The three infrastructure agencies cover roads, water resources, and railways respectively, with combined annual procurement of about $2.1B. LGED manages 65,000 km of local roads and bridges; BWDB oversees basin management and irrigation infrastructure; and BR is modernizing the national rail network. ADB, World Bank, and JICA loans are the primary funding sources, with strong potential for Korean EDCF linkage as well.

LGED (Local Government Engineering Department)
Annual Procurement$600M
Road Network65,000 km local roads
Key InterestsBridges, rural infrastructure, flood protection
2023 GPP Consultations15 cases
BWDB · BR (Water and Railway)
BWDB Procurement$500M (water resources)
BR Procurement$1.0B (railway)
BWDB Key ProjectsSluice gates, irrigation, flood management equipment
BR Key ProjectsSignals, rolling stock, track modernization
Infrastructure Sector: Key Planned Tenders (2024 Basis)
AgencyTender NameBudgetFundingMethodKorean Opportunity
LGEDConstruction of 200 local bridges$180MADB loanICBBridge design and construction viable
LGEDRural road paving — 500km$120MGOBNCBAsphalt equipment supply
BWDBHaor basin sluice gate rehabilitation$85MJICA loanICBSluice gate manufacturing and installation
BWDB50 irrigation pump stations$65MGOBNCBPumps and electrical equipment
BRDhaka–Chattogram double tracking$450MJICA loanICBSignal and communications systems
BRProcurement of 50 locomotives$120MEDCFLCSKorean EDCF tied procurement possible

Special Economic Zones · City · ICT: BEZA · DNCC · ICT Division

BEZA (Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority) oversees the development of 100 economic zones and executes about $400M in annual infrastructure procurement. DNCC (Dhaka North City Corporation) manages urban infrastructure in northern Dhaka, while ICT Division leads digital government and data center projects. These three agencies are directly linked to Bangladesh's industrialization and digitalization agenda, offering high growth potential.

Special Economic Zones · City · ICT Sector Profiles
AgencyAnnual ProcurementCore ProjectKorean Opportunity AreasGPP Consultations
BEZA$400MMirsarai Phase 1 Special Economic ZoneIndustrial zone infrastructure and utilities18 cases
DNCC$300MWaste management and sewerageEnvironmental plants and urban renewal10 cases
ICT Division$200Me-Government and data centersSI, cloud, and cybersecurity10 cases

Agency-by-Agency Practical Procurement Entry Guide

01
Bidding Qualification (PQ) Check
Prequalification standards differ by agency. PGCB uses ADB PQ guidelines; BPDB applies World Bank SBD standards; LGED uses CPTU standard PQ. To pass PQ, comparable project track records and financial soundness documentation must be prepared in English in advance.
02
Local Partner Requirements
Most agencies require a JV (joint venture) or local agent arrangement. BEZA is an exceptional case that permits 100% foreign investment. A local partner holding a Bangladeshi construction license is essential for meeting bid qualifications and managing on-site work — securing a vetted partner in advance is critical.
03
Financing Terms Verification
EDCF (Economic Development Cooperation Fund) loan projects offer favorable tied conditions for Korean companies. The BR locomotive project ($120M) is a representative EDCF tied-procurement opportunity. ADB and JICA loan projects run as international competitive bidding (ICB), but Korean firms can win on technical competitiveness.
04
Post-Consultation Relationship Management
The standard follow-up after GPP consultation is a thank-you email within two weeks and a technical proposal within one month. Bangladeshi procuring entities treat consistent communication as a trust indicator. Year-round additional meetings and tender updates can be requested through the KOTRA Dhaka Trade Center.

GPP Participation Process and Key Schedule

Agency Pre-Analysis
Identify procurement patterns via PMS and e-GP; check qualification standards (6–8 weeks before event)
GPP Application
Procurement agency and KOTRA notice → document review → sector-based assignment confirmed
Pre-Matching
Buyer-company preference matching → 1:1 consultation schedule confirmed (2 weeks before)
1:1 On-Site Consultations
Two days in Dhaka → 2.7 consultations per firm on average × 20 minutes each
Follow-up Bid Linkage
MOU → technical consultation → e-GP tender registration → document submission

Korean Company Entry Strategy by Agency

1st Priority Agencies (Power)
PGCBEmphasize transformer and SCADA technical capability
BPDBLNG power plant EPC references are essential
EDCF LinkageBR locomotive tied-procurement project
Shared StrategyBenchmark 코리아LS and Korea Motors success cases
2nd Priority Agencies (Infrastructure and ICT)
LGEDBridge design and construction — suitable for SMEs
BWDBOpportunity for sluice gate and pump specialists
BEZAIndustrial zone utilities and smart factory solutions
ICT DivisionSI and security solution pilot entry
2023 GPP Korean Company Participation ListSector composition and 1:1 consultation outcomes for 45 participating Korean firms
Bangladesh Major Infrastructure Projects 2025ADB, World Bank, and JICA-funded infrastructure projects and Korean company entry opportunities
GPPProcuring AgenciesInstitution Profiles2023Public Procurement
2023 GPP Invited Procuring Agencies: Bangladesh Agency Profiles | Dhaka Trade Portal