The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has urged the UK businessmen to come forward to improve trade, investment and economic ties between the UK and Bangladesh.
FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin made the call at the Networking Business Meeting with the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI) on Friday in London, according to a press release.
He said the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK is taking an active participation in trade and investment through business and economic collaboration.
“In the context of the new economic development perspective, there are huge opportunities and prospects for further enhancing the trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.”
The FBCCI chief also mentioned that though the UK is an important export destination of Bangladesh, still exports of the country to the UK is concentrated to a few items like knitwear, woven garments, frozen fish and textile items.
“Bangladesh offers one of the world’s best competitive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives including profit repatriation, tax holiday and duty-free import of capital machinery,” Jashim Uddin added.
FBCCI Senior Vice-President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu said, “FBCCI and BBCCI may work together in a focused manner to promote our country’s branding and facilitate export diversification, which is a must in the post LDC graduation period.”
He, however, sought investment from the non-resident Bangladeshis.
FBCCI Vice-President MA Momen put emphasis on strengthening of relationship between FBCCI and BBCCI for business and economic activities.
“FBCCI as the apex trade body of Bangladesh is always open to facilitate any business interest in Bangladesh,” he assured.
On the same day, the FBCCI president along with other members of the delegation had a business meeting with Richard Burge, chief executive officer of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
At the meeting, they discussed the initiatives to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between FBCCI and LCCI under which both can undertake business promotion activities, including regular exchange of delegations, business information exchange, joint research, trade fairs and networking events, read the release.
In earlier days of the visit as entourage of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh business delegation led by FBCCI President Jashim Uddin attended the “Bangladesh Investment Summit 2021: Building Sustainable Growth Partnership” organised by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission in London on November 4.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the chief guest of the programme followed by the signing ceremony of an MoU between FBCCI and HSBC for joint study on UK and Bangladesh markets to foster the bilateral trade and investment.
Besides, the FBCCI and UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry (UKBCCI) renewed the MoU in London on November 4.
The FBCCI president also met Sir Hugo Swire, vice-chairman of Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council (CWEIC), where both parties discussed mutual growth and closer cooperation between the business people of the commonwealth countries.
