Harnessing Technology in Bangladesh’s Manufacturing Industries

This book explores how a late-industrialising nation can navigate the transformative shift of Industry 4.0. Drawing on rigorous empirical research and original analysis, it examines Bangladesh’s current technological landscape in manufacturing, the drivers and barriers to technology adoption, and the critical policy imperatives needed to boost productivity, innovation, and sustainable industrial growth. Despite being a major apparel exporter and an emerging player in pharmaceuticals, Bangladesh remains trapped in low-tech manufacturing. This book investigates how the country can escape the low-productivity spiral by embracing digitalisation and advanced technologies. Employing firm-level data from the World Bank and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the authors use quasi-experimental techniques, including Propensity Score Matching and Regression Discontinuity Design, to evaluate the relationships among technology use, firm performance, labour productivity, and export outcomes. This book addresses pressing issues, including environmental sustainability, gender disparities in digital access, and foreign direct investment as a vehicle for technology transfer. It also delivers concrete, actionable recommendations aligned with Bangladesh’s national development priorities. It is a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, and industry leaders shaping the future of industrialisation in the Global South.