Business leaders in Bangladesh remain upbeat about revenue growth and the country's economic prospects, betting on technological innovation and business transformation to drive future expansion, according to PwC Bangladesh's 29th CEO Survey.
However, the findings also reveal growing concerns over long-term viability and the pace of technological change.
The business leaders expressed the optimism driven by a changing business environment and the adoption of technological innovations, according to the survey released this month.
The survey found that nearly half of chief executive officers are concerned about their companies' long-term viability, fearing they are not keeping pace with rapid technological change.
Despite these concerns, most respondents expressed confidence in their medium-term business outlook and remained positive about domestic economic growth.
Many reported gaining market share and exploring new avenues for expansion amid evolving market conditions.
The findings suggest that business reinvention is no longer a question of necessity but rather one of speed and execution.
Companies across various sectors are increasingly implementing transformation initiatives to strengthen competitiveness and build resilience for the future.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key driver of this transformation, the survey noted.
One in five CEOs said AI is already contributing to revenue growth, while one in four reported that the technology is helping reduce operational costs.
Most respondents also indicated that their organisational culture supports AI adoption and integration.
However, the survey highlighted that enterprise-wide deployment of AI remains limited.
Across major business functions, only 20 per cent of CEOs reported applying AI to a large or very large extent, suggesting that the technology has yet to become deeply embedded in core business processes.
The survey found relatively strong AI adoption in areas such as demand generation and strategic decision-making.
Around one in five respondents reported extensive use of AI in these functions, placing Bangladesh ahead of some Southeast Asian peers in certain categories.
PwC Bangladesh Country Managing Partner Shams Zaman said the next phase of growth would depend on how effectively organisations address structural challenges, including enterprise-wide AI integration, climate resilience and capital allocation practices.
Respondents to the survey included Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh; Sharif Zahir, Managing Director of Ananta Apparels Ltd; Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer of Grameenphone Ltd.; Upali Chowdhury, Managing Director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd.; and Farzanah Chowdhury, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Green Delta Insurance PLC.
jasimharoon@yahoo.com