The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has urged Indonesia to take steps to reduce the bilateral trade gap with Bangladesh for the mutual benefits of the two countries.
The trade body also stressed the need for introducing a direct flight between Dhaka and Jakarta to this end.
The issues were discussed at a meeting between DCCI president Abul Kasem Khan and Indonesian ambassador in Dhaka Rina P Soemarno at the DCCI office on Monday.
The DCCI chief called on the Indonesian envoy to take an initiative to start direct air flight between Dhaka and Jakarta to boost bilateral trade, especially in the tourism sector.
He proposed arranging a joint road show in Dhaka as well as in Jakarta in order to attract investments.
He also laid emphasis on the need to take a government-to-government initiative for signing a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between Bangladesh and Indonesia.
In response, Ambassador Rina P Soemarno said that her country is actively considering signing the PTA with Bangladesh.
The two countries have held several meetings on this issue, she added.
The DCCI president suggested that entrepreneurs of both the countries should explore the potential to grab a share of the international halal food market.
He invited Indonesian investors to invest in agriculture, information technology (IT), leather, infrastructure and tourism sectors in Bangladesh.
He requested the Indonesian investors to avail themselves of investment-friendly environment now prevailing in Bangladesh.
Mr Khan informed the envoy that DCCI is going to celebrate its 60th anniversary this year.
To mark the anniversary, DCCI will host an international business conference titled 'Destination Bangladesh', he said.
Ambassador Rina P Soemarno said jute and jute goods, shoes and other diversified products of Bangladesh have a potential market in Indonesia.
She invited Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to attend 'Tradexpo Indonesia' to be held in Indonesia from October 24 to 28.
She expressed her country's interest to jointly work in the blue economy sector to explore its potentials.
The ambassador also backed the idea of establishing a direct flight between Dhaka and Jakarta.
She stressed the need for exchange of visits by trade delegations of the two countries.
Such initiatives would bring the entrepreneurs of both the countries close to each other, she said.
DCCI vice president Riyadh Hossain invited Indonesian investors to invest in the IT sector of Bangladesh.
At present, the bilateral trade volume is in favour of Indonesia.
Bangladesh exported goods worth US$46.389 million to Indonesia against the import of US$1149.9 million in fiscal year (FY) 2016-17.
Counsellor-economic affairs of Indonesian Embassy Inggrid Rosalina was also present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com