Economy
“Turkiye-Bangladesh trade and investment potential to see high prospect in future”
The trade and investment potential between Bangladesh and Turkiye will see high prospects in the future, said Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) President Rizwan Rahman.
An 86-member business delegation of DCCI is visiting Istanbul, Turkiye to explore new trade and investment opportunities. During this visit, the delegation attended the Bangladesh-Turkiye business forum arranged by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce on 28 September 2022, said a press release.
In the welcome address Burhan Polat, executive board member of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce said that Bangladesh and Turkiye maintain a friendly bilateral trade relationship for a long.
He said Bangladesh is one of the important countries in the South Asian region in terms of trade and investment and Bangladesh is maintaining steady economic growth for the last few decades. Bangladesh should increase its export basket and volume.
The Turkish market is one of the potential places for Bangladeshi entrepreneurs. Bangladesh in recent times is doing better in the leather, pharmaceutical, RMG and light engineering sector. To boost bilateral trade he urged to sign a trade agreement.
Moreover, he stressed enhancing liaison between the private sector of these two countries. Istanbul Chamber is one of the largest trade organizations in the world and has more than 6 lakh members. Istanbul Chamber will be happy to extend its full out cooperation to the Bangladeshi investors to explore new investment opportunities in Turkiye.
Dhaka Chamber President and leader of the delegation Rizwan Rahman said that in FY2020-21 the bilateral trade between Bangladesh land Turkiye was $871.55 million which is in favor of Bangladesh. But the volume is not to the expected level. Turkiye is the 23rd largest export destination of Bangladesh. Turkiye is the 29th largest foreign investor in Bangladesh amounting $30.51 million.
Rizwan Rahman also said that Bangladesh and Turkiye can work and advocate together to form an effective D-8 economic bloc.
He urged Turkiye to transfer state-of-the-art industrial technology. He also urged for capacity building of SMEs, research collaboration, strengthening of agro-value chain and knowledge exchange. He also said that the existing bilateral trade volume does not reflect the actual trade potential between these two friendly countries. He later invited Turkish investors to invest in Bangladesh as well as import more from Bangladesh.
Later the business delegation members of Dhaka Chamber had interactive business-to-business match-making with more than 350 Turkish companies of different manufacturing and service sectors after the business forum.
After that Rizwan Rahman had a separate meeting with the President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Şekib Avdagiç.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
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