http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=118248
Dhaka liberalises investment policy
Thai entrepreneurs told at Bangladesh road show
Unb, Bangkok
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan here yesterday called upon Thai investors to invest more in Bangladesh’s potential sectors as the country liberalized investment policy much more than other South Asian countries and announced the Industry Policy 2009 with a new vision.
“The policy has given more emphasis on private sector. I would urge private-sector leaders of both the countries to reap fruits of these policies to march forward,” he said addressing the opening session of “Bangladesh Road Show 2009 in Thailand ” held at the Miracle Grand Hotel in the Thai capital under the government’s current quest for foreign investment.
The Bangladesh-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTCCI) in cooperation with the Board of Investment (BOI), Thailand, the Thai Embassy in Dhaka and Thai-Bangladesh Business Council (TBBC) and Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand staged the road show.
A 39-member business delegation, including BTCCI President MA Momen, and over 100 Thai entrepreneurs participated in the show.
Objective of the campaign was to focus Bangladesh’s immense opportunities in promising sectors as well as to induce prospective Thai investors into investing in Bangladesh.
Deputy Secretary General of the Thai Board of Investment Ajarin Pattanapanchai also spoke in the opening session.
Referring to the objective of the road show, Faruk Khan said the exposition was organised to highlight jute, leather, pharmaceuticals, power and energy, health and hospitality, agro-food, roads and highways infrastructures, tourism and travel sectors of Bangladesh and Thailand.
The minister hoped that the programme would help reduce trade gap between the two countries and increase potential of trade, commerce, investment and other economic activities between the two countries.
He noted that the existing bilateral trade figure is not Satisfactory and said the balance is very much in Thailand’s favour.
Bangladesh exported products worth US$39.31 million to Thailand while its import bill was US$529.72 million in 2008-09 fiscal year. In 2006-07, exports from Bangladesh fetched USS$21.85 million as against imports costing US$214.68 million.
The commerce minister emphasised finding out practical ways and means for furtherance of the relations between Bangladesh and Thailand as there is huge potential to increase the bilateral trade, business and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Two sessions on “Sectors of Opportunities in Bangladesh ” also focused on eight important sectors which include pharmaceuticals, capital market, jute and jute goods, tourism and travels, IT and telecom, leather and leather goods, fisheries, textile and RMG.
