'Switzerland to Promote Innovative Financing, Entrepreneurship in Bangladesh'

Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli announced on Thursday that promoting innovative financing in emerging economies remains a top priority for Switzerland. 

Speaking at the Sustainable Finance Summit 2026, the Ambassador explained, “This is why we are a global pioneer in supporting impact enterprises, catalytic funds, and entrepreneurship programmes that combine public purpose with market discipline.” 

The summit, which gathered over 200 stakeholders from the development, finance, policy, and private sectors, focused on the current status and future opportunities of sustainable finance within the Bangladeshi economy.

Ambassador Renggli emphasized the importance of collaborative platforms, stating, “Platforms like this Summit are critical for bringing together stakeholders. 

They strengthen partnerships, enable exchange of ideas, and turn ambition into action, facilitating a favourable investment climate marked by legal security, regulatory predictability and a level playing field.” 

During the event, stakeholders noted that the global sustainable finance market, which reached USD 919 billion in 2025, is projected to grow to USD 1.1 trillion in 2026. 

Bangladesh has shown significant momentum in this area, with sustainable financing reaching BDT 83.75 billion during the final quarter of 2025, representing 35.87 percent of all disbursed loans.

The Ambassador further highlighted that "sustainable finance is no longer a niche agenda, it is essential for building an inclusive and future-ready economic foundation," while praising Bangladesh’s efforts in climate resilience and financial inclusion. 

Organized by LightCastle Partners with support from the Embassy of Switzerland, the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Truvalu Bangladesh, and Startup Bangladesh Limited, the day-long event aimed to mobilize blended finance. 

Masud Rahman, Chief Technology Advisor of the a2i project, also addressed the summit, remarking, “Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture where innovation, technology, and sustainable financing must advance together. 

In this context, the government is placing significant emphasis on supporting entrepreneurs through the strengthening of digital infrastructure.”

The summit featured three panel sessions and a keynote presentation titled “From Pledges to Projects: Unlocking the Next Trillion in Sustainable Finance” by Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners. 

Notable participants included Zahedul Amin of LightCastle Partners, Corinne Pignatare Henchoz (represented by Diepak, Deputy Head of Mission at the Swiss Embassy), Dhaka Stock Exchange MD Nuzhat Anwar, Startup Bangladesh Limited MD Nurul Hai, and other senior officials from Brummer & Partners, South Asia Tech, and Infusion Partners. 

The discussions collectively underscored that blended and sustainable financing are essential to strengthen economic development, address climate risks, and expand public welfare initiatives.

With Inputs from UNB