According to a Board of Investment (BoI) survey, Bangladesh received FDI worth $431.35 million last year, up from the previous year's $268.92 million.

In addition, the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) received another $154.13 million last year.

Sources said investors from 23 countries registered with the BoI for investment during the year.

Investors from Norway invested $175.70 million in 2004 followed by those from the United Kingdom ($72.86 million), Malaysia ($38.97 million), Canada ($ 29.19 million) and Egypt ($19.96 million).

Investors from Denmark, Switzerland, China, Germany and Hong Kong are the major investors who registered with the BoI.

There was poor response from the USA, Netherlands, Japan, South Korea and France although the cumulative investment from these countries is very high.

Netherlands' total investment until now stands at $602.51 million, USA $585.722 million, Japan $185.194 million, South Korea $107.72 million and French $100.24 million.

BoI sources said the bullish FDI growth can be achieved as foreign investors showed interest in capital intensive energy, telecom and textile sectors.

The board expects the FDI this year to outgrow last year with a number of big league players such as Tata, Orascom and Signtel are likely to invest.

A high official of the BoI told with The Daily Star yesterday that industrial majors have shown interest this year in power generation, coal mining, fertiliser and cement.