A two-day business conclave starts in Dhaka today (Sunday) aimed at facilitating energy distribution, transmission and trading as well as encouraging collaboration among renewable energy entities.
The conclave will serve as an excellent platform for the companies in the agriculture, education, and health sectors to explore areas of mutual interests and seek potential joint ventures.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) are jointly hosting the two-day BIMSTEC Business Conclave to promote energy cooperation and explore avenues for collaboration in agriculture, education, and healthcare between India and Bangladesh.
ICC Director General Dr. Rajeev Singh has brought together 85 prominent business leaders and industry captains from BIMSTEC countries, signaling a significant step towards enhancing the economic ties in the region.
This was disclosed at a press conference on Saturday.
The diverse range of participants includes companies engaged in manufacturing industrial products, distinguished MSMEs, large-scale constructing firms, power generation companies, new and renewable energy entities, PSUs, solar energy, oil and gas companies, DISCOMS storage and distribution companies, and energy-efficiency enterprises.
During the press conference, it was announced that a total of 828 meetings have been scheduled, fostering the expectation of fruitful partnerships and business collaborations between Indian and Bangladeshi companies.
Apart from energy sector discussions, the conclave has also witnessed detailed deliberations on agriculture, education, and healthcare. Both the ICC and IBCCI are working towards establishing joint-venture hospitals in Dhaka, Kishoreganj, and Pabna aimed at bolstering healthcare infrastructure and services in Bangladesh. Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed shortly in this regard.
IBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad underlined the immense potential for cooperation between India and Bangladesh across various sectors. He emphasised the need for raw materials like bamboo chips, pulp, rocks, and minerals in Bangladesh, which can be sourced from India’s northeast region.
He also highlighted the game-changing impact of the newly constructed Maitree Setu over the Feni River, reducing the distance between Agartala and Chattogram to just 111 km, thus substantially enhancing transshipment of goods to India’s northeast region.
Furthermore, Ahmad expressed optimism about the Matarbari deep seaport in Bangladesh, which is expected to boost growth, enhance maritime connectivity, and strengthen industrial value chains.
Concluding his statement, he expressed the hope that the BIMSTEC Business Conclave would not only foster cooperation in the energy sector but also attract increased investments in Bangladesh.
