Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi urged the businessmen of Brazil to source more apparel products from Bangladesh, the second largest producer of ready-made garments in the world.
“Our exports to Brazil are not much compared to imports. Bangladesh exported goods valued at $109.20 million to Brazil in fiscal year 2021-22 against imports worth $ 2.25 billion from the South American country,” said Tipu Munshi while opening the Brazil-Bangladesh trade conference in Dhaka on Thursday.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Jashim Uddin was a special guest while Brazilian ambassador Paulo Fernando Dias Feres made an address of welcome on the occasion.
The Embassy of Brazil in Dhaka organised the daylong conference to promote bilateral trade in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Department of Trade Promotion, Investment Attraction of Brazil.
Agribusiness in Brazil and the Brazil-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI) were also partners of the event.
Ambassador Alex Giacomelli da Silva of Brazil made a vote of thanks in the opening session.
In his speech, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi mentioned that Bangladesh is turning into a potential business hub in Asia with geographical proximity with India and China, two major economies in the world.
“Around 40 million of 170 million populations in Bangladesh have good buying capacity. Besides, we have good connectivity with India and China representing around 3 billion population combined,” he said.
The minister said, “ If the Brazilian businessmen set up factories in Bangladesh, they can tap the market easily.”
“If we see the figures in bilateral trade with Brazil, the balance is on Brazil's side of Brazil. We should address the issues with more dialogues at business to business level,” he said.
Ambassador Paulo Fernando Dias Feres hoped that the trade conference will help the business communities in Bangladesh and Brazil to boost up bilateral trade through sharing more ideas.
“There are many challenges and opportunities around us in the changing world. I believe we would be able to improve the bilateral relationship through facilitation of more trade,” he said.
Brazilian Ambassador Alex Giacomelli da Silva opined that his country could contribute to ensuring food security in Bangladesh through boosting agro-driven business.
Anirban Aftab of INN Group, Felipe Luis Ody Spaniol from National Confederation of Agriculture, Lui Renato de Alcantara Rua from Brazilian Poultry, Swine and Fish Association and Juliano Leonidas Hoffmann from Associação Brasileira de Reciclagem Animal, Marcelo Duarte Monteiro from Brazilian Cotton Growers Association, Rodrigo Gedeon from Apex Brasil and Counselor Fernando Onofre were also present on the occasion.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Mohammad Ali Khokon, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) vice-president Shahidullah Azim, and Bangladesh Cotton Association president Muhammad Ayub also attended.
