UKBCCI Directors had a very fruitful meeting with the FBCCI president, Mr Matlub Ahmed, at the FBCCI headquarters in Dhaka. The president of the UKBCCI, Mr Bajloor Rashid MBE, along with directors Abdur Rouf JP, Azad Ali and M. A. Gani were present.
A highly successful event was held by the UKBCCI and The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at the Regents Lake Banqueting in London.
The FBCCI is a key chamber in Bangladesh and to have its President Abdul Matlub as well as many of its delegates proved to be a highly prestigious and informative event outlining many of the things that both UKBCCI and FBCCI can offer its members.
Well-attended and proving very popular, the event was also marked by the high-profile of its guests, which included senior directors of UKBCCI and other than FBCCI personnel, chief guest Tofail Ahmed, Honourable Commerce Minister of Bangladesh, special guest HE MD Abdul Hannan, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK, special guest Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Honourable State Minister, Ministry of ICT, Bangladesh, Nahim Razzak, Honourable MP from Bangladesh and also Pasha Khandakar, President Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA).
Invited to attend the second e-commerce Fair being held in London, UKBCCI Chairman Iqbal Ahmed OBE and President Bajloor Rashid MBE, both graced the event with their presence.
Knowledgeable and ever well-informed, Ahmed spoke eloquently on the subject of e-commerce with the audience listening intently.
However, the event was marked by a major event, where UKBCCI in partnership with BHTPA (Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority) of BCC Bhaban, Agargon, Dhaka, Bangladesh and The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between themselves. All parties concerned were very complimentary about the signing.
With well over a 100 guests attending and scores of professional and very business orientated members of the audience, including senior UKBCCI directors, as well as solicitors, doctors and even politicians, present, UKBCCI’s latest roadshow proved another success.
Hosted by UKBCCI director Dr M G Moula Miah with the compares being Anawar Babul Miah and Ronju Miah, the latter being one of the UKBCCI members from the West MIdland region. Other than conveying the benefits of joining the UKBCCI, the organisation spoke about its successes. its activities and its achievements.
The UKBCCI also indicated the many plans and events it has to benefit its members.
The UKBCCI are planning a trade mission to Bangladesh in 2016.
As Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is developing in several sectors at pace, the aim of the comprehensive delegation will be to showcase leading British companies to the local business community, and to introduce them to the flourishing Bangladesh economy and market.
To seek out the best business opportunities, the delegation will visit the main cities of Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong during a five day visit to Bangladesh. This will see them meeting relevant local businesses and entrepreneurs, Ministers and leading Government officials at the Ministries of Commerce and Education in the capital, and national chambers and industry leaders in all three cities.
Figures from the Bangladesh Bank show the UK was the second largest cumulative investor/source of FDI into Bangladesh in the financial year 12/13 with £159.5m worth of investment projects. Some 100 UK firms have operations locally with the main centres of operation focused around Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.
In particular, the UKBCCI would like to focus the delegation on the following important sectors, many of which are key to both the UK and Bangladesh economy :
• Textiles
• Pharmaceuticals
• Electronics
• Telecommunications
• Leather
• Energy
• Food Processing
• Shipbuilding
• Consultancy
• Service Industry
Aside from the skills and knowledge transferred via the business relationships, the UKBCCI is keen to encourage developing bilateral trade as both the UK and Bangladesh have much to offer each other and grow economically.
