Imran Khan, a U.S.-based investor and former Snapchat executive, met with Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus in New York and said he wants to invest in Bangladesh, signaling fresh interest in the country’s fintech, health and social business sectors. Mr Khan opened the meeting by saying he is a great admirer of Professor Yunus and that Yunus’s long work to reduce poverty impressed him deeply. He talked about his own path from studying abroad to working in global banks and tech companies, and he said he sees strong reasons to support businesses in Bangladesh now. Khan pointed to rapid growth in digital payments and startup activity and said that young people and improving services make Bangladesh a market with room to grow. He also said that rules and systems have been changing in ways that make it easier for investors to consider new projects. Professor Yunus welcomed Khan and suggested he look at opportunities in fintech, health care and social business, and he invited Khan to visit Bangladesh to see projects and meet local leaders. The two spoke about ways private capital can join social goals, and Yunus proposed the idea that top foreign investors set aside a small portion of their funds for social business initiatives. Khan liked this idea and said he might support a fund or work with others to back businesses that aim to do good while making money. During the meeting Khan described his background as an investment banker and later a leader in tech investment firms, noting work on big public deals and his role at known tech companies. He said this experience gave him a clear view of how to support fast growing companies and how to scale services for many users. Khan also runs an investment firm that focuses on technology driven change in sectors like payments and digital infrastructure, and he said that focused bets can help build lasting services. Professor Yunus spoke about the potential for social business to reach more people if it finds private partners who care about social impact as well as returns. Both agreed that partnerships across borders can bring new ideas, training and capital that help startups grow and hire local workers. Top officials joined parts of the discussion to explain local projects and to suggest ways to speed up meetings and exploration trips. Khan said he would plan a visit in the coming months to meet entrepreneurs and see promising projects with his eyes. The meeting sends a hopeful message that experienced global investors are looking at Bangladesh for new investments that mix business sense with social aims, and it may encourage more conversations that bring capital, skills and new services to local people.
