Restore direct flights to boost trade: Salman

Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman has called on Uzbekistan to restore direct flights between the countries to boost bilateral trade and expand their respective tourism sectors.

He made the call during a meeting with a delegation led by Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhrom Aloev at his office in Gulshan on Friday afternoon.

In the meeting, Salman told Aloe that if direct flights between Bangladesh-Uzbekistan are launched and visas are simplified, the businessmen of the two countries will be able to visit and find investment areas. This will increase the government-to-government as well as business-to-business communication.

He said Bangladesh is exporting medicines to more than 152 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Australia. There is a huge opportunity to establish cooperation between the two countries in regards to pharmaceutical products and technology transfer.

Describing Uzbekistan as an important friend and development partner to Bangladesh, Salman said, “Trade and economic cooperation is the main focus of Dhaka-Tashkent relations. There are opportunities for cooperation in various sectors including textiles, pharmaceuticals and information technology.

“Uzbekistan can be a big market for ready-made garments, medicines, and ICT products.”

The premier’s private industry adviser also said, “There is a lot of potential for the development of business and tourism sectors in both countries. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has built 100 economic zones and hi-tech parks in the country and announced attractive incentive packages and facilities for foreign investors.”

Uzbek investors can use this opportunity to invest in Bangladesh, he added. Meanwhile, Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Aloev said direct cargo flights between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh will be launched and visa facilities will be provided to Bangladeshis under easy conditions. Lauding Bangladesh’s development progress, he said, “Bangladesh has achieved success in all indicators under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Pharmaceutical products (manufactured in Bangladesh) are well known in the world.”

Aloev expressed keen interest in taking the relationship between the two countries to a more close and strong position by inviting the businessmen of Bangladesh to invest in Uzbekistan.

He said, “Now is the time to expand the relationship between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. Transport and communication was a concern, but we are working on it. We are ready to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries.”

Uzbekistan, a Central Asian landlocked country, produces some of the highest quality cotton in the world. There is a good opportunity for bilateral trade in this regard.

Bangladesh, second largest cotton importer in the world, needs 8.5 million bales of cotton annually to meet the growing demand for yarn in the garment sector, while it produces only 2.25 lakh bales. needs to import Tk 35,000 crores of cotton to meet the gap.