Trade potentials between Bangladesh and the Francophonie countries, especially France, Canada and Switzerland, still largely remain untapped.
Diplomats from the three major Francophonie countries and business leaders of the respective chambers have come up with the observation at a seminar titled “Trade between Bangladesh & Francophonie countries: Opportunities and Way Forward” held at Hotel Le Meridian in the capital yesterday.
Stressing the need for identifying new areas of economic cooperation, they said: “This year the festivities of Francophonie in the country will add an economic dimension. However, the trade between Bangladesh and Francophonie countries is the manifestation of the economic dimension.”
They have also pinned hope that the cooperation that has started today among the three Francophonie Chambers with the economic event will pave the way for more events to be organised jointly in future in the interest of Bangladesh and Francophonie countries.
On the occasion of Francophonie week, the seminar was jointly organised by three Francophonie Chambers-Canada Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CanCham), France Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Switzerland Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Earlier, Francophonie Week was manifested only with cultural and linguistic disposition.
The seminar was addressed, among others, by Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Benoît-Pierre Laramée, Ambassador of France Sophie Aubert, Ambassador of Switzerland Christian Fotsch, Chief of the Economic Department of the French Embassy Pirre Fabre while CanCham President Masud Rahman delivered his welcome speech.
CanCham President Masud Rahman in his welcome speech said: “For today’s Economic Event, the role of the three diplomatic missions is outstanding. I greatly acknowledge the support of the three missions to make the Francophonie Economic Event happen as part of Francophonie Week.”
Two presentations on trade between Bangladesh and Francophonie countries: Opportunities and Way Forward were presented by Switzerland Ambassador Christian Fotsch and the trade official of the French embassy.
French embassy presentation stated that the bilateral exchange between France and Bangladesh stood at 2.4 billion euros in 2015, which is an increase of 30%, compared to 2014.
In 2015, the export from France to Bangladesh registered a significant growth of 91% while the import from Bangladesh increased by 25%, the report added.
Interestingly, the report also said Bangladesh remains the 4th commercial partner of France in South Asian region just after India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh still remains little known to the French exporters whereas according to international institutes, the country of 165 million inhabitants has the potential to become an emerging middle-income country in the next decade, said the report of the French embassy.
On the other hand, Switzerland Ambassador Christian Fotsch in his presentation said: “The total bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Switzerland crossed US$510 million in 2015 while crossing half a billion mark for the first time.
It registered an impressive growth of 10.6% compared to 2014, however, it has more than doubled since 2010 and expected to cross USD 1 billion mark in coming years, he added.
In 2015, Swiss exports to Bangladesh around CHF 158 million with 20% growth over 2014 while imports in the same period stood at around CHF 352 million at 7% growth, he also noted.
