DHAKA, Oct 26, 2021 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the
businessmen who come to invest here would get the opportunity to avail the
market of South and Southeast Asia as Bangladesh will make a bridge between
east and west for expanding business.

   "In future, Bangladesh will be developed as a communication bridge between
East and West," she said while inaugurating the weeklong "Bangladesh Trade
and Investment Summit-2021" at Bangabandhu International Conference Center
(BICC).

  Joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital as
the chief guest, the premier said different opportunities are being created
in various ways keeping in mind the geographical location and importance of
Bangladesh.

  She opined, "Those who come to invest in Bangladesh will not only get
Bangladesh, I would say there will also be an ample opportunity (for them) to
capture the South Asia and Southeast Asian market and export".

  The prime minister added it will further help expand trade and commerce in
the country.

  Sheikh Hasina said the communication networks are being built all over the

country through improving water, rail, road and airways.

  Mentioning that, there was only one international airport in Dhaka in 1996,
she said after assuming office, Chattogram and Sylhet airports have been
turned into international ones while work is going on for another
international airport in tourist hub Cox's Bazar.  

  "We are developing Syedpur airport as a regional one so that the
neighbouring countries can also use it," she added.

  Speaking about the sea ports, Sheikh Hasina said they are improving
country's principle Chattogram sea port, Mongla port and a new Payra port,
which will be developed as a deep sea port in future.

  Extensive development work is also being done at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar
centring the new sea port, which will also turn into a deep sea port in
future, she added.

  As part of the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the country's
Independence, Ministry of Commerce and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(DCCI) are jointly hosting this international virtual Summit.

  Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Prime
Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Commerce
Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers
of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Md. Jashim Uddin and President of DCCI
Rizwan Rahman also spoke at the ceremony.

  An audio-visual documentary on Bangladesh's economic progress was screened.

  The summit includes nine sectors, underscoring critical enablers and
avenues of the economy, seeking massive investments especially in
Infrastructure (Physical, logistics and Energy), IT/ITES and 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.

  A total of 552 companies from 38 countries along with Bangladesh of five
continents will participate in 450 business to business (B2B) match-making
sessions, which will help explore new business opportunities and attract FDI
in Bangladesh.

  Six webinars on different trade and investment related issues will be
organized, where representatives from the business community, experts from
local and international and Policy makers will participate to put their
insights on these issues.

   The prime minister said the nine sectors which have been prioritized in
Bangladesh Trade and Investment Summit is time befitting, but more sectors
and products will have to be explored to increase exports.

   She said, "Along with these sectors, I will also say that we need to
research and find out what new products we can produce and export".

   She added, "We also need to consider whether we can produce those products
in Bangladesh by realizing country-wise products demands."

  Sheikh Hasina also requested the business leaders, especially in the
private sector, to pay special attention to this issue.

   "I think we need to increase the number of our export items," she said.

   The premier hoped local and foreign industrial entrepreneurs, traders and
investors will be able to know in detail about the potentiality of the
business sector in Bangladesh for trade and investment through this
conference.

   As an outcome of the summit, new doors of Bangladeshi products will open
in the world market and Bangladesh will be managed to attract the desired
investment along with increasing exports, she noted.

   Mentioning that 23 trade wings are working in friendly countries to
strengthen trade diplomacy, she said feasibility studies have been completed
with 23 countries for implementation Bilateral Preferential Trade Agreements
(BPTA), Regional Preferential Trade Agreements (RPTAs), Free Trade Agreements
(FTAs) and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs).

   She went on saying Bangladesh is working continuously with different
international and regional groups such as UNCTAD, UNESCAP, EU, D-8, BIMSTEC
etc.

   Sheikh Hasina said they've introduced One Stop Service (OSS) portal system
from 2019 to provide all investment related services under one platform with
which more organizations are being incorporated gradually.

   With the aim of offering 154 investment services of 35 organizations
online through OSS portal, a total of 42 services of 12 organizations have
been provided online in the current financial year, she said.

  The remaining services will be available in this portal during the next
financial year, she added.

   She said the establishment of 97 economic zones has been approved till
June 2021, of which nine economic zones are in production while development
work is underway in 28 economic zones.

   Employment of about 40,000 people has been generated in those economic
zones while creating employment for another 800,000 people is underway, the
premier said.

   She continued the government has taken initiative to build the largest
economic zone "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City" on about 34,000
acres of land in Mirsarai, Sonagazi and Sitakunda upazilas.

   The prime minister said the desired progress has been achieved in every
sector of the country in the last 13 years and Bangladesh is now a "role
model" in socio-economic development in the world.