Symposium builds momentum for initiative targeting USD 1 billion

[Dhaka, September 25, 2026] VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator, and its operating subsidiary in Bangladesh, Banglalink, on Thursday hosted the inaugural investor symposium for the “Invest in Bangladesh NOW!” initiative in New York City, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The closed-door roundtable brought together global investors, development finance institutions and Bangladeshi government officials to discuss investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s digital economy. 

VEON’s “Invest in Bangladesh NOW!” initiative, launched earlier this year, is a proposed public-private partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and is anchored by VEON’s initial USD 250 million capital commitment, with the broader ambition of mobilizing USD 1 billion in total foreign direct investment into the country’s digital economy. This week’s symposium marks the first major international event under the initiative, bringing the investment case for Bangladesh directly to the global capital community in New York. 

The event was attended by Bangladesh's Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Rehan Asif Asad, Advisor to the Prime Minister for ICT, and Tanvir Ghani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Investment and Capital Market Affairs, alongside senior officials from the Government of Bangladesh. Also in attendance were senior representatives from the Government of the UAE, the US Department of State, and leading global investors and development finance institutions including BlackRock, Rothschild, the IFC and the World Bank.  

“Bangladesh’s digital transformation creates a compelling opportunity for long-term investment,” said Kaan Terzioglu, Chief Executive Officer of VEON. “We are backing that opportunity with a USD 250 million commitment and bringing international partners together to help mobilize USD 1 billion into the country’s digital economy. Through Banglalink, we are expanding from connectivity into digital services that help people make payments, access opportunities and participate more fully in the economy. Our ambition is to turn investment into a better life for all.”  

“VEON invests in markets whose digital potential is still underappreciated by global capital,” said Augie K Fabela II, Chairman and Founder of VEON. “Bangladesh is home to more than 170 million people, a young and ambitious population, and a digital economy that is accelerating quickly. Putting our own capital in first, ahead of other investors, reflects our long-term confidence in what this country is building.” 

The event also spotlighted recent milestones in Banglalink's digital expansion. The company has received approval from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to launch Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellite-to-mobile service, which will let compatible phones connect directly to satellites in areas without conventional coverage. This will make Bangladesh the first country in South Asia to introduce the technology. The Finance Minister also announced approval of a new digital bank license backed by VEON and Square Group, and this week Banglalink separately launched Mukto Pay, its new digital payments platform for transfers, merchant and bill payments, and disbursements. 

“Today marks a defining moment in Banglalink’s evolution as a digital operator,” said Johan Buse, Chief Executive Officer of Banglalink. “By bringing together the world’s leading investors and development finance institutions in New York, VEON has created a platform for Bangladesh that we believe will generate real, sustained investment in our country’s digital future, and we are proud to be at the center of that story.”