Policy Research Institute

What Policy Research Institute does

Policy Research Institute (PRI) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank headquartered in Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh, founded in 2009 by Dr. Zaidi Sattar. The organization conducts policy-oriented economic research focused on macroeconomic management, fiscal policy, trade competitiveness, domestic resource mobilization, financial sector reform, and long-term development planning for the Bangladesh economy. PRI's primary customers are Bangladesh government ministries (Finance, Planning, Commerce), Bangladesh Bank, the National Board of Revenue, the Planning Commission, and the Prime Minister's Office, alongside multilateral and bilateral development partners including the World Bank, ADB, UNDP, IMF, IFC, USAID, UK Aid, and CIDA, and private sector associations such as FBCCI and MCCI.

PRI's outputs consist of research publications and advisory deliverables rather than a technology product platform. Its portfolio includes 25+ numbered working papers (WP-01 through WP-25, spanning 2012-2024), quarterly policy briefs, journal articles, the Policy Insights online publication, and recurring analytical events (Macroeconomic Insights, Budget Insights). The institute played a direct role in formulating Bangladesh's Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Five-Year Plans, the Perspective Plans 2021 and 2041, the National Social Security Strategy, and the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100. Operating units include the PRI Study Centre on Domestic Resource Mobilization (CDRM, established 2021) and three project platforms covering Digital Financial Services, Green Growth, and Trade Policy and Negotiation Capacity Building.

PRI's business model is that of a donor-funded research nonprofit: revenue is generated through technical assistance assignments and research grants from international development agencies and government ministries, with all publications disseminated free of charge to policymakers, business professionals, and academics. The leadership team comprises senior economists with World Bank, IMF, and Bangladesh civil service backgrounds, and distribution occurs through direct government engagement, the pri-bd.org and policyinsightsonline.com platforms, a media partnership with The Financial Express, high-profile seminars and conferences, and webinars with international partners.

Name

Policy Research Institute

Legal name

Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh

Website

https://pri-bd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Policy Research Institute (PRI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank in Dhaka, Bangladesh, conducting economic policy research on macroeconomic management, fiscal reform, and trade for the Bangladesh government, multilateral donors, and business chambers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Economic Advisory Services

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

Keywords

• Economic policy research
• Macroeconomic analysis
• Trade policy advisory
• Fiscal policy research
• Development planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Donor Funding: PRI operates as a non-profit research organization that undertakes technical assistance assignments funded by international development agencies and donors. Revenue is generated through donor-funded research contracts with multilateral institutions (World Bank, ADB, UNDP, IMF, IFC), bilateral agencies (USAID, UK Aid, CIDA), and technical assistance programs for government ministries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Policy Research Institute (PRI) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that conducts policy-oriented economic research on Bangladesh's economy and provides technical policy advice to government ministries, international development agencies, and business chambers. Its core deliverables are working papers, policy briefs, journal publications, macroeconomic analyses, and direct technical assistance supporting national development plans, trade policy reform, fiscal policy, and monetary policy.

Product overview

Policy Research Institute (PRI) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization focused on economic policy research and advocacy in Bangladesh. It is not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of research publications, policy analysis, working papers, and economic reports rather than software products or platforms. The institute produces research outputs including the PRI Quarterly Policy Briefs, PRI Working Papers, Journal Publications, and Policy Insights. It also houses the PRI Study Centre on Domestic Resource Mobilization (CDRM) for revenue and fiscal policy research. PRI organizes seminars, conferences, and workshops for policymakers, government agencies, and business professionals, and provides technical assistance to government ministries on economic policy matters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PRI Working Papers A standalone, ongoing series of in-depth economic research papers authored by PRI economists covering macroeconomic policy, trade, banking, fiscal reform, social protection, and development topics for policymakers, academics, and business professionals.
• PRI Quarterly Policy Briefs

Quantifiable outcome

• PRI-supported national development plans (6th, 7th, 8th Five-Year Plans, Perspective Plan 2041) have guided Bangladesh's economic policy trajectory for over a decade
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Monetary Fund (IMF)coreIMF collaborates with PRI on macroeconomic policy analysis, tax reform studies, and Bangladesh's IMF program reviews. PRI provides analytical support and policy dialogue related to IMF-supported reform programs.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFC collaborates with PRI on private sector development research, environmental sustainability of the RMG sector, and digital financial services. PRI organized a dialogue with IFC to enhance environmental sustainability of Bangladesh's RMG sector.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF is listed as an international agency partner, likely collaborating on social protection and human development research.
• International Growth Centre (IGC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGC collaborates with PRI on economic growth research and policy analysis for Bangladesh.
• PDP Australia Pty LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDP Australia is listed as an international knowledge partner collaborating on development research.
• African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACET is an international knowledge partner sharing economic transformation research and best practices with PRI.
• Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBDI is a knowledge partner focused on Bangladesh's development, collaborating on research and policy analysis.
• Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIDS is a local knowledge partner collaborating on economic research and policy analysis in Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh Foreign Trade InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA local knowledge partner supporting PRI's trade policy research and analysis.
• Asian Tiger Capital Partners LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a local knowledge partner contributing to PRI's research initiatives.
• Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFBCCI is a private sector partnership and advisory partner engaging with PRI on economic policy dialogue and private sector development.
• Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCCI partners with PRI on private sector advisory activities and economic policy discussions.
• South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSANEM is a private sector partnership and advisory partner collaborating on economic research and modelling.
• The Financial ExpressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Financial Express serves as PRI's media partner, providing coverage and dissemination of PRI's research findings and policy recommendations to a broader business and policy audience.
• Ministry of Finance (Bangladesh)coreOthersPRI provides technical policy research and inputs to the Ministry of Finance, supporting fiscal policy, tax reform, and macroeconomic management.
• National Board of Revenue (NBR)coreOthersPRI works with NBR on tax policy, customs reform, and domestic resource mobilization research. PRI established the Study Centre on Domestic Resource Mobilization (CDRM) to boost revenue policy research.
• Bangladesh BankcoreOthersPRI maintains excellent working relationships with Bangladesh Bank, providing macroeconomic and monetary policy analysis.
• Planning Commission (Bangladesh)coreOthersPRI played a key role in supporting the Planning Commission in formulating all major Five-Year Plans and Perspective Plans since 2011.
• Ministry of Commerce (Bangladesh)coreOthersPRI provides trade policy analysis and negotiation capacity building support to the Ministry of Commerce, including the Bangladesh Trade Policy and Negotiation Capacity Building project.
• Prime Minister's Office (Bangladesh)coreOthersPRI has formal engagement with the Prime Minister's Office on national economic strategy and development policy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Growth Centre (IGC): Global research initiative funded by FCDO/UK Aid delivering evidence-based growth policy advice in developing countries, including Bangladesh. IGC is an active partner of PRI and operates a comparable donor-funded policy advisory model across multiple geographies.
• World Bank Bangladesh Country Office: Multilateral institution that both funds PRI and commissions much of its macroeconomic and development policy research. Comparable as a producer of country-level policy analysis and a convening body for Bangladesh's reform agenda, though operating at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS): Government-affiliated policy research institute conducting economic and development research in Bangladesh. Listed in PRI's own partnerships as a local knowledge partner; competes and collaborates on the same macroeconomic and development policy agenda.
• Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD): Bangladesh's most prominent competing independent think tank, also producing macroeconomic, trade, and development policy research and engaging directly with government and donors. Highly comparable as a fellow Dhaka-based nonprofit policy research outfit competing for the same audience and donor pool.
• Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI): Government-established institute focused on trade policy research and capacity building in Bangladesh, listed as a PRI knowledge partner. Directly comparable on trade policy analysis and trade negotiation capacity building.
• BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD): Bangladesh-based governance and development research centre within BRAC University, employing many of the same policy economists (e.g., Dr. Ashikur Rahman previously at BIGD). Overlaps directly with PRI on social protection, governance, and development policy research.
• Bangladesh Development Initiative (BDI): Diaspora-led Bangladesh-focused development policy initiative listed as a PRI knowledge partner. Comparable on Bangladesh-specific development research, advocacy, and convening activities aimed at international audiences.
• South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM): Bangladesh-headquartered economic research network producing macroeconomic analysis, modelling, and policy briefs. Listed as a PRI knowledge partner and competes in the same donor- and government-facing economic policy space.

Regional players

• African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET): Accra-based economic transformation research think tank listed as a PRI knowledge partner. Operates a similar donor-funded policy research and advisory model targeting a different continent, useful as a structural peer for revenue model and operating cadence.

Emerging players

• Centre for Research and Information (CRI): Bangladesh-based research and policy communication organization producing policy briefs and dialogue events. Comparable in mission (evidence-based policy advocacy) though smaller and narrower in scope than PRI.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/policy-research-institute-pri-of-bangladesh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Policy Research Institute