DHAKA, Oct 18, 2019 (BSS) – Bangladesh Forum Qatar (BFQ) has selected 18 potential sectors to expand bilateral trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and Qatar.
“We are working to increase the trade and investment relationship between the two friendly nations. We have already selected different potential sectors in this regard,” BFQ founding President Iftekhar Ahmed told BSS.
The sectors are agro product, battery or cable or power, cement, ceramic, fashion outlet, fintech or ICT or software, fisheries and meat, food and beverage, furniture, leather, pharmaceutical, plastic, real estate, school or hospital or clinic, shipbuilding, textile or jute, toiletries and tourism.
Iftekhar Ahmed said Qatar is the world’s one of the richest countries in terms of per capita GDP, importing US$27 billion worth of products and services.
“There is a huge opportunity for Bangladeshi businesses to take the advantage of Qatar’s market and use it as a hub,” he added.
He said the current open market sourcing environment in Qatar poses a unique opportunity to Bangladeshi exporters to gain market share as well as getting investments back into country.
Moreover, he said, the Qatari government is providing strong support for commercial activities and business through different agencies.
He informed that around 4 lakh non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) are working in Qatar, which poses a niche market.
In the Middle East, the BFQ president said, Bangladesh mostly sends labour but conditions are changing now and there are huge opportunities for Bangladesh to expand its export market there.
He said many Qatari investors are showing interest to invest in Bangladesh’s different sectors as the government of the country is providing all sorts of support to the investors.
Iftekhar Ahmed also informed that the embassy of Bangladesh in Doha and BFQ, under the patronage of EPB, are going to organise a three-day exhibition, titled ‘Made in Bangladesh’ at the “Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC)” in Qatar from December 10.
He said the event is set to become the first single country exhibition for Bangladesh outside the country.
He said the main purposes of arranging the event are to promote Bangladeshi trade and business in Qatar and build bridge between the countries by upholding the image of Bangladesh there.
The next football world cup 2022 is scheduled to be held in Qatar which could become another big push for Bangladeshi traders and exporters for promoting and marketing their products, he added.
At the event, the BFQ president said, there is strong support from Chamber of Commerce, Qatar for arranging B2B meetings with the Qatari companies for the respective sectors, site visits and in bi-lateral talks with the concerned government authority.