Bangladesh's first business summit organizers are planning to attract domestic and foreign businessmen and investors by showcasing the government's business-friendly policy, plan of 100 economic zones, stable political environment and competitive labour during the summit.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate this three-day summit on March 11.
The summit, envisaged to become Bangladesh's flagship business promotion bi-annual event, seeks to highlight Bangladesh's economic and market strength and concrete trade and investment opportunities in Bangladesh by convening national and global business leaders, investors, policymakers, practitioners, policy and market analysts, academia and innovators.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) are also working with the FBCCI for the summit.
To brief on this upcoming mega event, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) arranged a pre-press conference and networking luncheon on Thursday.
While speaking as the chief guest at the Briefing and Networking Luncheon event, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said: “Bangladesh Business Summit is a very timely initiative in the backdrop of the Covid-19 wave, Russia-Ukraine war and desperately disrupted global economy and supply chain. Today, we are here to listen to FBCCI about the plans and aims during the upcoming Business Summit and they have made their points.”
“I'm particularly happy that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also a key partner to this special event. We are working with our best possible calculations to stimulate our product ecosystem and keep trade in investment points.”
“We're highly optimistic this event will help us to reach out to international business communities and uphold the strength of our global connections for finding a win-win paradise for the economic prospect of Bangladesh,” Momen further said.
Quoting data, the foreign minister also said that we are moving towards the right direction to become a trillion-dollar economy by 2035. We have the potential to become an international business and manufacturing hub, he opined.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi thanked the FBCCI for taking this wonderful initiative to represent Bangladesh to the world as the business hub of Asia and beyond.
He said that Bangladesh stands as a success story attracting investors from the dominating global players like Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan, India, China, Russia and the USA. He also mentioned that the sustainable progress of Bangladesh has been reflected in the UN declaration of Bangladesh as eligible for LDC graduation.
The commerce minister said: “The potential investors are expected to invest in a big way with the completion of 100 special economic zones in the country. The agricultural-based economy is being replaced by export-oriented industrialization and gradually moving to a knowledge-based economy.”
He requested the diplomats to join the FBCCI's 50 years celebration and brand Bangladesh as the best trade and investment destination having lucrative business opportunities and incentives.
FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin said that the country is now moving forward with a new vision.
“A cost-effective, sustainable, intelligent, knowledge-based, innovative Smart Bangladesh will be built on the four main foundations — Smart Citizen, Smart Economy, Smart Government and Smart Society — by 2041. FBCCI is also playing a significant role to make this journey successful. As a part of this journey, FBCCI is going to organize Bangladesh Business Summit 2023 to showcase all the improvements and dynamic business opportunities of this country,” he added.
During his speech, Hameem Group Chairman AK Azad said: “There are wide opportunities for businessmen to invest in Bangladesh as well as many reasons. Here the land is ready in economic zones. Labour is still cheaper than in many countries. Although there are some problems with electricity and gas in recent times, it is hoped that the government will be able to solve this problem soon.”
FBCCI Senior Vice-President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu delivered thanking remarks on the occasion.
Summit agenda
Organizers also informed that along with representatives of the world's leading companies, ambassadors and high commissioners from 28 countries are also being invited to the summit slated for March 11 to March 13.
The Bangladesh Business Summit will also host the best of Bangladesh Expo and FBCCI Business Awards 2023.
There will be three plenary sessions on strategic issues, 13 parallel technical sessions, B2B meets, networking sessions, an open house reception and guided tours for international delegates.
