Initiative to channel the talent, skills and investment of the diaspora into national development
Dhaka: The NRB World Summit 2026 will take place in Dhaka on 28 and 29 December, aiming to make better use of the talent, professional expertise, international experience and investment of Bangladeshis living around the world. This year’s slogan is “Think Bangladesh.”
The organizer, NRB World, expects more than a thousand non-resident Bangladeshis from many countries to attend the two-day international conference at the Sheraton in Dhaka. Alongside expatriate business leaders, investors and professionals from various fields, politicians, ministers, diplomats and international experts are also being invited.
According to the organizers, the core message of “Think Bangladesh” is to encourage established Bangladeshis abroad to look afresh at the country’s potential, explore investment opportunities, and connect their knowledge, experience and international networks with Bangladesh’s economic and social development.
NRB World is a US-based, non-profit and non-political organization. It says Bangladeshi professionals living in more than 50 countries are part of its network, and one of its main goals is to connect professionals, entrepreneurs and investors scattered across the globe into an effective international community.
Although the organization was formally launched in 2020, its efforts to build an international platform began much earlier. The idea took shape in 2014, when a World Business Summit for expatriate Bangladeshis was held in Singapore. Business conferences followed in Bangladesh in 2017, in the United States in 2018, and in Dubai in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The NRB Professional Summit was later held in Dhaka to create direct contact between the country’s policymakers and expatriate business people and professionals.
Discussions on investment, technology and entrepreneurship
Sessions at the summit will cover business, investment, trade, entrepreneurship development, technology, and the role of expatriates in Bangladesh’s economy. Through roundtables, discussions and networking activities, the organizers plan to focus on creating new partnerships and investment opportunities between business people and professionals at home and abroad.
The organizers say the aim is not only to encourage expatriate investors to invest in Bangladesh, but also to create a channel of communication with the government, business community, entrepreneurs and policymakers so that their investments are safe, transparent and meaningful.
From “Brain Drain” to “Brain Gain”
A key topic will be the prospect of turning Bangladesh’s “Brain Drain” into “Brain Gain.” Participants will discuss how the knowledge and experience gained by Bangladeshi doctors, engineers, technologists, scientists, researchers and other professionals working abroad can be put to use for national development.
NRB World’s plans include using experienced expatriate professionals to help train young people in Bangladesh and develop their skills. It will also work to strengthen links between internationally established Bangladeshi experts and business people, entrepreneurs and policymakers at home.
A separate health conference on investment
A separate health conference will be held as an important part of this year’s summit, bringing together physicians, academics, researchers, scientists and healthcare experts from Bangladesh and abroad.
It is expected to discuss improving healthcare in Bangladesh, the use of new technology and research, and the opportunities and challenges of domestic and foreign investment in the health sector. How the experience of Bangladeshi doctors and health experts working overseas can benefit the country’s health system will also be a priority.
New executive committee and international publications
NRB World is expected to announce its new executive committee for the 2026–2028 term at the summit. Several international publications will also be released.
The organization has also begun compiling lists and publications titled “100 Successful Bangladeshis of the UK,” featuring Bangladeshis who have contributed to business, education, the professions, culture and social service in the United Kingdom, and “100 Successful Bangladeshis of Europe,” covering those established in various European countries.
For these publications, it has invited the Bangladeshi communities in the UK and Europe to nominate successful entrepreneurs, business people, professionals, academics, social workers and others who have made notable contributions in their fields.
NRB World said expatriate Bangladeshis do more than represent Bangladesh abroad; their knowledge, skills, professional experience, international connections and investment capacity are also valuable assets for the country’s future economy.
Against this backdrop, the organization wants the December conference to become an international platform for building new business, professional and investment links between Bangladesh and its diaspora.
NRB World has called on non-resident Bangladeshis around the world to take part in the NRB World Summit 2026, explore investment prospects in Bangladesh, and build long-term partnerships between the country and its diaspora.
