On the picture His Excellency Minister of Finance Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith together with the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Belal, his wife Dr Dilruba Nasrin and Mr Anwar Shawkat Afser.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI), in conjunction with the Embassy of the Republic of Bangladesh in The Hague, organized the DUTCH-BANGLA EXPO 2016 (the first single country / joint trade show between the Netherlands and Bangladesh) on 28-29 September.
The objective of the fair was to demonstrate Bangladesh businesses’ investment potentials, and much more, to the world – particularly in the Netherlands and the Benelux.
This prestigious event took place at the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority – in active collaboration with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
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Many individuals attended the inauguration ceremony to listen to the indefatigable Bengali veteran politician, Finance Minister Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith, who was vehemently at the helm of the struggle for the liberation of Bangladesh. Representatives from the Dutch Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassadors from countries like Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka – just to name a few – as well as diplomats of other countries were also present.
Below is the breakdown of the inaugural program:
- Welcome by Mr. Anwar Shawkat Afser DBCCI President (ag)
- H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador of Bangladesh in the Netherlands
- The Honorable Finance Minister Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith
- Mr. Guido Landheer, Deputy Director General Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Representing Minister Lilianne Plumen who is in Bangladesh)
- A vote of thanks by Mr. Shahriar Taha (DBCCI)
Bangladesh’s Finance Minister, Hon. Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith inaugurated the fair as the guest of honor. The exhibitors who were showcasing their products and services were from across various sectors including Ready Made Garment (RMG), leather, textiles, jute, water and ICT.
In his invigorative keynote address, the Finance Minister Abul Maal A. Muhith commenced by stating how overwhelmed he was by what he saw. He thanked the government of the Netherlands, the Embassies and all the stakeholders for the efforts they had made. Muhith considered the trade fair to be a clear picture of the Bangladesh economy.
Minister Muhith cordially invited Dutch investors and businesses to Bangladesh, as necessary conditions for the take-off of the Bangladesh economy have been created. Never before was Bangladesh so well-prepared to absorb talent, technology and investment from outside; never before was the country as investment-hungry as it is today.
A strategic geographic location in the vicinity of two major economies of the world – India and China – along with its low cost labor makes Bangladesh a potentially attractive destination for foreign direct investment. Bangladesh offers the most liberal FDI regime in South Asia, allowing 100 percent foreign equity with unrestricted exit policy, easy remittance of royalty, and repatriation of profit and incomes. Moreover, the Foreign Private Investment Act provides legal protection from nationalization an expropriation
The government of Bangladesh hosts development projects that include ports development, new export processing zones, special economic zones and initiatives under “Digital Bangladesh 2021”.
The Minister continued, ‘I have no doubt that the Dutch-Bangla Expo 2016 will give all potential investors from the Netherlands, as well as from the greater Benelux region, an opportunity to know, in greater depth and dimension, the investment prospects in Bangladesh. With these words, I urge all potential investors from the Netherlands to invest, in whatever form that suits you best, in this fast growing prospective market. I assure you of my personal care in making your dreams a reality. Let’s step together to shape the future of our country!.’
One of the take-aways of this trade fair was that the cooperation between the Netherlands and Bangladesh be taken to a more elevated level.
A seminar, focusing on business and investment opportunities in Bangladesh, took place subsequent to the official closure of the fair.
