H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal delivering his remarks.
By Roy Lie Atjam.
The seminar was organized by DBCCI Dutch Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), The Embassy of Bangladesh The Hague, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the RVO Netherlands Enterprise Agency. The venue was the Hilton Hotel in The Hague, 23 April 2018.
Bangladesh is no longer a Least Developed Country but a Developing country (UN). The country aspires to become a middle income country by 2021 (Vision 2021).
A fifty men strong delegation made up of representatives of the Private sector, Government representatives and others flew in to promote their country and attend the Investment and Business seminar.
It has been a well-attended event with speeches, presentations, a Panel discussion with the theme Bangladesh Growing Big: Opportunities to loom large and a Q&A session. By all means, a successful day.
Notable was the presence of H.E. Kazim Aminul Islam, who is the Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Office of the Prime Minister). Also good to mention was the presence of Mr. Guido Landheer, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Economic Relations, Dutch MFA.
H.E. Kazim Aminul Islam, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Office of the Prime Minister, delivered the keynote address. Mr Guido Landheer, guest of honour, Deputy D.G of the Dutch Foreign Economic Relations also delivered his remarks.
“Bangladesh, a Beacon of Opportunities”
The objective of the Bangladesh Investment and Business Seminar was to introduce Bangladesh, to promote and stimulate investment and trade between the new Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
Moreover, the seminar highlighted the investment regimes as well as business opportunities in key sectors among others, ICT, high-tech agriculture and aquaculture, dredging port development and operation, food processing, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy especially renewable energy, jute and leather products, etc. Bangladesh High-Tech Park Authority is implementing the Bangabandhu High-Tech City at Kaliakoir. Various other locations around the country will follow.
“Tomorrow’s Bangladesh is already here “
Bangladesh has made valiant efforts to reform her business climate.
A one-stop investor service is expected to be operational in the very near future. Bangladesh has all potential investors might require: is politically and economically stable, the workforce is young and well educated, has an enormous local market a population of 166.000.000 .
Additionally, foreign investors can benefit from various incentives, exemptions in tax and duties, no expropriation or nationalisation menace.
It’s interesting to note that the Hon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received on 27 April 2018 the Global Women’s Leadership Award. The Global Summit of Women conferred the award on her for her leadership in women’s education and entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal assured the Dutch investors and businesses full support in their future ventures in Bangladesh. Ambassador Belal highlighted the engrained comparative advantage that the Dutch already have as they already have a sizable investment in Bangladesh.
