With the call for investing in Bangladesh taking its competitive advantages, the ‘Bangladesh Trade & Investment Summit 2021’ began on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated virtually the weeklong conference jointly organised by the government’s Ministry of Commerce and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
“Those who would come to invest in Bangladesh would also get the opportunity to access South and South Asian markets,” the prime minister said highlighting the prospects and incentives for foreign investors to make investments in Bangladesh.
She also urged the businesspeople and trade body leaders to conduct research on innovating newer products to add to the country’s export basket.
DCCI President Rezwan Rahman welcomed the guests at the inauguration of the summit held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, the prime minister’s Private Industries and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman and President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Jasim Uddin also addressed the session.
The plenary sessions on a variety of issues of trade and investment will begin on Wednesday.
The October 26-November 1 summit is being held also to mark the Mujib Year and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence.
A total of 552 companies from 38 countries of five continents are taking part in 450 business-to-business (B2B) match-making sessions, which, the DCCI president hopes would help to explore new business opportunities and attract foreign direct investment in Bangladesh.
The investment summit includes nine sectors: underscoring critical enablers and avenues of the economy, demanding massive investments, especially in Infrastructure (Physical, logistics and Energy), IT/ITES & FINTECH, Leather goods, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive and Light Engineering, Plastic products, Agro and Food Processing, Jute and Textiles and FMCG (Fast-moving consumer goods) and retail business.