The FBCCI on Tuesday sought support from Confederation of British Industry (CBI) President Lord Karan Bilimoria for Bangladesh’s initiatives in signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin solicited assistance from Lord Karan at the Networking Dinner in his honour at a hotel in Dhaka.
Jashim also sought the CBI president’s assistance in continuing the existing trade benefit received from the UK, one of the giant development and trade partners of Bangladesh, in the post-LDC period.
“We look forward to the future of our engagements through signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the CBI and joint programmes for business promotion, industry-academia partnerships and skill development,” the FBCCI chief said.
He urged the UK business community to invest in Bangladesh.
Jashim said, “With the present pace of business growth and infrastructural development, we will be able to become the South Asian centre for excellence and a regional hub with access via road, railway and sea.
“We foresee the scope of strengthening cooperation in trade and investment with a focus on development and innovation, food processing, ICT, plastic, petrochemical, shipbuilding, tourism, infrastructure development, petroleum and energy and knowledge transfer to facilitate the transition of the 4IR,” he added.
In FY2021-22, Bangladesh exported goods worth $4.83 billion while the imports stood at $0.63 billion.
Speaking as the chief guest, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun expressed hope that the UK will remain a friend in the future journey of Bangladesh towards a developing country.
In his speech, Lord Karan Bilimoria, also the chancellor of the University of Birmingham, expected that the two countries will work together in harnessing the potentialities of the Bangladeshi youths highly skilled in ICT.
In future, he said, the UK will welcome more Bangladeshi students to its universities.
“Developing empathy between the two countries is essential to bolster the bilateral investment.”
Lord Karan recalled the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh as his father took part in the great war as a member of the Indian Army.
Masud Bin Momen, senior secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged the private sector of the two countries to conduct a feasibility study on exporting Bangladeshi agro-products to the UK.
He also recommended undertaking initiatives to increase the access of Bangladeshi freelancers to the UK outsourcing market.
The private sector also may work on how Bangladesh can send more doctors, nurses, and caregivers to the UK, Masud added.
British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson urged Bangladesh to work on getting more UK companies interested in investing in the country.
He also suggested further developing the business environment here.
FBCCI Senior Vice-President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu delivered the closing remarks at the event.
The apex trade body’s former presidents Md Mahbubur Rahman, Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, AK Azad, and Matlub Ahmad, while FBCCI vice-presidents Md Amin Helaly, Salahuddin Alamgir, Md Habib Ullah Dawn and directors, among others, were present on the occasion.
