Corporate
BIDA, LABCCI signed MoU to boost trade and investment
LABCCi: The Latin America-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) to boost trade and investment between Bangladesh and Latin America.
Bida Executive Chairman (Senior Secretary) Lokman Hossain Miah attended as the chief guest at the MoU signing ceremony held at the Bida office in the capital on Wednesday (15 March).
LABCCI President Md Anwar Shawkat Afser and Bida Marketing and Communication Executive Member (Additional Secretary) Md Matiur Rahman signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.
At the ceremony, the Brazilian Embassy in Dhaka Commercial Specialist Nahid Ferdousi assured that Brazil is very much interested in tying up with Bangladesh in all aspects.
Md Anwar Shawkat Afser said that a new era has been started by the MoU signing ceremony.
“LABCCI now got the affiliation from the Prime Minister’s Office of Bangladesh, Bida. Now business societies from Latin American countries may get more confidence to invest and trade in Bangladesh through the collaboration of LABCCI,” he said.
The LABCCI president highlighted the upcoming event “Bangladesh Investment B2B (Business to Business) Event in Latin America 2023” which will be jointly organised by Bida, DBCCI and LABCCI in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Argentina and Brazil on 6-17 March 2023.
Representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs and commerce, Bida, Beza, Hi-Tech Park Authority and high-profile Bangladeshi and European businessmen will participate in the mega event.
Salman Fazlur Rahman, private industry and investment advisor to the prime minister, will lead the delegation in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Argentina and Brazil.
Bida Executive Chairman Lokman Hossain Miah assured full support for this delegation, saying that the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina created a friendly environment for businessmen as EPZs will provide a safe zone for foreign investors in Bangladesh.
In the last 15 years, Bangladesh’s economy has changed dramatically. People’s incomes have increased and their lives have improved. By 2027, another 3.5 million people will enter the middle class, he added.
“Bangladesh is not only a huge domestic market of 17 crore people, but with proper investment, the consumer market of about 300 crores in South Asia including India and China can be accessed from here,” said the Bida executive chairman, adding that Bangladesh is one of the top safe investment destinations in the world.
He appreciated the LABCCI board of directors for their initiative to attract FDI from the Latin America region as well as from Europe.
China Correspondent: A new chapter in Guangxi’s tourism development unfolded on Dec 2, as a themed flight from Beijing touched down at Nanning Wuxu International Airport.
The flight’s arrival marked the official launch of a joint tourism initiative, “The Next Station, Guangxi,” by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Air China, and China Daily, aiming to showcase Guangxi’s spectacular karst landscapes, ethnic traditions, and local charm to global travelers.
Air China’s Flight CA1311 functioned as a “flying cultural experience of Guangxi”, giving passengers an immersive sneak peek into the region’s unique appeal.
From check-in to landing, travelers were surrounded by Guangxi’s cultural elements: dedicated service counters with Guangxi-themed backdrops for photo opportunities, custom-made bilingual boarding passes that doubled as collectibles, and cabin interiors adorned with stickers featuring the region’s iconic landscapes and ethnic patterns.
In-flight entertainment systems looped promotional videos, allowing passengers to glimpse the “unmatched natural and cultural beauty” awaiting them in Guangxi.
Over the next seven days, a delegation of international and domestic travel influencers, vloggers, and media journalists will embark on an exploratory tour of Guangxi’s key attractions.
Their itinerary includes experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of Nanning’s night markets, where the city’s “night economy” thrives; visiting Hechi’s Bama — a world-renowned “longevity town” — to uncover the secrets of healthy living.
Then they’ll travel to Yizhou in Hechi, the hometown of legendary folk singer Liu Sanjie, to listen to melodious local mountain songs; and explore Guilin’s iconic karst mountains and rivers, which have inspired poets and artists for centuries.
Beyond the Beijing-Nanning route, tailored themed flights connecting Shanghai and Guangzhou to Guangxi are also in the pipeline. These routes will create seamless transfer options for international travelers via China’s major aviation hubs, further facilitating access to the region.
To enhance the appeal of traveling to Guangxi, a series of practical incentives has been rolled out.
Individual travelers who book Air China transfer tickets to Guangxi by December 31, 2025, can enjoy an exclusive 4 to 8 percent discount for travel before March 26, 2026. Specific terms and conditions are available through Air China’s official channels.
Travel agencies can access subsidies until January 5, 2026. Eligible firms organizing inbound groups via charters or block bookings qualify for up to 70,000 yuan ($9,660) per charter, or 700 yuan per person for groups of five or more from overseas and China’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions.
Corporate
A Unique Initiative by JCI Dhaka West to Promote Inclusion of Specially-Abled and Disabled Youth
A four-day special workshop titled Project Third Eye 2.0 was jointly organized by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Dhaka West and the Dhaka University Support for Students with Disabilities, with the objective of ensuring inclusion of specially-abled individuals in various sectors of society.
Project Third Eye 2.0, emphasized on developing the professional skills of specially-abled and disabled youth, empowering them to become capable and strong leaders in society. The core objective of this initiative is to increase employment opportunities and ensure accessibility for specially-abled and person with disability to promote inclusive recruitment processes—ultimately helping remove widespread stereotypes and misconceptions in society.
The project Third Eye launched in 2024. The closing ceremony of this project was held on 18 October 2025 (Saturday) at the Faculty of Arts Building, University of Dhaka. A total of 25 visually-impaired, physically, and disabled students from the University of Dhaka and the National University participated in the program.
Certificates were awarded to all trainees, and special honors were presented to everyone involved in organizing the event by Md Altamis Nabil, JCI Bangladesh 2025 National Executive Vice President. He stated that JCI Bangladesh believes Project Third Eye 2.0 is not just a local initiative—it is a sincere commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a proactive step toward building a more inclusive world. He highly appreciated and praised this remarkable initiative of JCI Dhaka West.
Under the guidance and patronization of Sujaur Rahman Emon, 2025 Local President of JCI Dhaka West, all activities of the project were successfully executed. He stated that at JCI Dhaka West, we believe that the greatest wealth of the world lies within humanity itself. Project Third Eye 2.0 is not merely a training program; it is an effort to unlock the indomitable confidence and hidden potential of specially-abled youth. The skills they have acquired will undoubtedly illuminate their professional journey and mark a strong step toward building an equitable and inclusive society.
Project Director Ahmed Wazedul Haque Khan said, “Project Third Eye 2.0 is not just a workshop or a project; it is a vital movement in transforming the corporate culture of Bangladesh. We believe that physical or any other limitations can never limit one’s dreams. These young individuals are now prepared to lead corporate sectors based on their talent and merit.”
Under the supervision of Audrika Eshna Purbasha, Local Vice President of JCI Dhaka West, Project Director Ahmed Wazedul Haque Khan, and Project Lead Jobayer Ahmed accomplished and carried out the project with tremendous success.
The project and training workshop were successfully completed with the support and sponsorship of Youth Upskill Network, GearLaunch, Global Travels, NextGen, National University Skill Development Forum (NUSDF), Savory and Ignite Global Foundation.
It is worth mentioning that Junior Chamber International (JCI) is an organization for enthusiastic young people aged 18 to 40. Its headquarters is located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. JCI operates in more than 120 countries with over 200,000 active members.
For the fourth consecutive year, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Dhaka West has organized Project White Cap 4.0, an initiative designed to provide ICT education to underprivileged and madrasa students who remain on the margins of mainstream opportunities.
On 1 October 2025, a total of 40 students and teachers from a madrasa and orphanage located in Asian City under Dakshinkhan Police Station, Dhaka, were brought under this training program.
To ensure access to ICT education for madrasa students, JCI Dhaka West launched the unique initiative titled “Project White Cap” in 2022. Keeping pace with rapid technological advancement, this year’s project curriculum included several new additions. Alongside the basic ICT modules, advanced topics such as Canva and AI integration were incorporated. Through this one-week program, each student received hands-on ICT training and was meaningfully connected to the digital world.
Under the guidance and overall support of Sujaur Rahman Emon, Local President of JCI Dhaka West 2025, the complete project activities were successfully executed. He stated that this initiative by JCI Dhaka West is a social responsibility effort aimed at developing ICT skills among underserved students. Like previous years, this year’s program was completed with great success.
Masud, JCI Dhaka West’s Training Commissioner for 2025, served as the Project Director, while Farah Sayed Abdul Bari, a General Member of JCI Dhaka West, served as the Project Lead.
The project trainers were Saddam Hossain, Editor of Jagoran News, and Masud, Sales Lead at Oleyn AI.
Project Director Masud stated, A significant portion of our country’s students belong to the madrasa community. Due to various limitations, they often remain deprived of digital opportunities in this era of digitalization. Our primary goal was to teach them the basics of digital literacy, and we have successfully achieved that. To ensure sustainability, we are setting up a computer at the madrasa so that students can continue practicing digital literacy even after the project ends.
It is worth noting that Junior Chamber International (JCI) is an organization of enthusiastic young individuals aged 18 to 40. Its headquarters is located in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. JCI operates in more than 120 countries with over 200,000 active members. In Bangladesh, there are currently more than 40 local chapters, among which JCI Dhaka West is one of the oldest and most prominent chapters.
