The Bangladesh Investment Summit was held in China on July 9, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present there as the chief guest. Interested investors and businessmen from various sectors in China, as well as a good number of Bangladeshi businesses had joined the summit.
One of the attendees is PRAN-RFL Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, who spoke to The Business Post after the event about Bangladesh’s export potential in China.
The eminent businessman said his company has already begun exporting to the Chinese market, and he participated in this summit to find out how to capture more export markets. Ahsan mentioned that China is a good place for Bangladeshi exporters.
“As Bengali businessmen, we do not understand China very well, but we are trying, so that we can enter the market easily,” he stated.
The head of PRAN-RFL Group, which exports to different countries around the world, said, “China is now the second largest economy in the world. So a huge market is waiting for us. The Chinese government has given us a duty free facility but we are not able to utilise it.”
In response to the question why it is not being used, Ahsan Khan said, “Our key weakness is that we do not think about China more. I would appeal to the educated youth of Bangladesh that they can turn to China instead of the EU and USA. Many opportunities await here.
“It is good news that many students are going to study in China, and trying to learn the Chinese language as well. It helps to improve communication between the two countries. We have to continue it.”
Discussing the weakness from the business community’s perspective, Ahsan Khan said, “As a businessman, I did not pay as much attention to China as I should have. But since last year, we have been trying to increase this relationship.”
About the market potential of China, the experienced businessman said, “The country has a huge interest in processed food. China’s businessmen, entrepreneurs and consumers love non-Chinese products.
“You will be happy to know that the nation of noodles is now importing such products from Bangladesh. My company is exporting noodles in the Chinese market and the volume is increasing day by day.”
Ahsan, also the executive committee member of Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA) said, “If Bangladeshi manufacturers produce products keeping in mind the Chinese market, then the market can be captured more easily.”
He believes that if China's One Belt One Route Initiative is effective, then it will be possible to export goods from Bangladesh to China by road. Besides, raw materials imported from China can be sent quickly to Bangladesh.
“This will increase our competitiveness, which helps to increase export earnings,” Ahsan pointed out.
