BSEC postpones roadshow in Qatar

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has postponed its upcoming roadshow in Qatar as many officials concerned failed to get their visas from the Arab nation.

The two-day roadshow in Qatar, titled “The Rise of Bengal Tiger: Potentials of Trade and Investment in Bangladesh,” was scheduled to be held at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha on May 18 to attract foreign investors.

The decision also comes soon after the government enforced austerity measures that banned less important foreign tours of bureaucrats to rein in pressures on the dwindling forex reserve.

“Many officials who were supposed to attend the event failed to get Qatari visas. At the same time, some of the guests said they would not be able to attend the roadshow due to their busy schedule,” BSEC Executive Director and spokesperson Mohammad Rezaul Karim told The Business Post.

He also acknowledged that the postponement also propelled by the government’s recent decision to avoid any non-essential overseas trips by government officials.

“The event will be planned for a later date after complications with the visas are solved,” he added.

The roadshow, which would have been the fifth such event organized by BSEC, was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in association with Bangladesh Forum Qatar (BFQ), in a bid to attract foreign investment and popularise the country’s stock market in the international arena.

Prime Minister’s Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, BIDA Executive Chairman Md Sirazul Islam, BSEC Chairman Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam and some other government and non-government high officials were expected to join the event.

Previously, BSEC organized similar roadshows in Dubai, the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

After Qatar, the stock market regulator plans to hold similar shows in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Germany, Canada, Russia, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and other countries.