The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) will work with the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce (CHCC) to enhance bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Canada. 

The apex trade body of Bangladesh will provide all kinds of support to Canadian investors interested in investing in the country, FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam said during a networking dinner with the CHCC on Thursday night.

In honour of the visiting delegation of the Canadian Hindu chamber, the FBCCI hosted the dinner at a hotel in Dhaka. Businessmen and entrepreneurs from Bangladesh and Canada also participated in a business-to-business (B2B) meeting before the networking dinner.

In his speech, the FBCCI chief called upon the Canadian Hindu business community to invest in Bangladesh.

He said the government of Bangladesh has enacted a favourable investment policy with tax exemptions, duty drawbacks, access to working capital, one-stop services, and many more to attract local and foreign investors.

Key development initiatives include deep-sea ports, 100 special economic zones, hi-tech parks, tourism parks, nuclear power plants, LNG terminals, and the construction of a railway network, Mahbubul said.

He said this year marks the 52 years of bilateral ties between Canada and Bangladesh.

During these years, Canada has become the key development partner of Bangladesh and shared a number of multilateral interests, including trade liberalisation in the WTO, support for international peacekeeping, and membership in the United Nations and the Commonwealth, he said.

Mahbubul invited Canadian entrepreneurs to invest in special economic zones, logistics, renewable energy, aviation and shipping, high-tech RMG, diversified jute and leather products, and the tourism sector in Bangladesh.

The FBCCI president said there is a huge scope for expanding Bangladesh’s exports to Canada, including diversified jute and leather goods, footwear, pharmaceutical products, plastic furniture, home textiles, ceramic products, light engineering, electronic products, etc.

Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s economy has progressed a lot, he said, adding that the country is now considered one of the leading business and investment destinations in South and Southeast Asia.

Praising Bangladesh’s development, CHCC President Nareshkumar Narayanbhai Chavda said Bangladesh and Canada have enjoyed a tremendous business relationship over the years.

"There are many good opportunities between Bangladesh and Canada. Like FBCCI in Bangladesh, CHCC also has a vast membership in Canada. Both FBCCI and CHCC can utilise this opportunity to enhance business between the two countries,” he said.

The CHCC president also invited business leaders of the FBCCI to visit Canada.

Among others, FBCCI Senior Vice-President Md Amin Helaly, vice-presidents Khairul Huda Chopol, Mohammad Anwar Sadat Sarker, Joshoda Jibon Debnath, and Md Munir Hossain, FBCCI directors, and business dignitaries were present at the programme.