On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, during a meeting at Gulshan between the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and a 26-member business delegation from the Europe-Bangladesh Federation of Commerce and Industry (EBFCI), European-based Bangladeshi businessmen expressed their interest in investing in Bangladesh’s promising sectors. These sectors include pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agriculture, processed food, education, technology, and service industries, along with human resource development.
The meeting was chaired by FBCCI Administrator Md. Hafizur Rahman, who noted that the European Union (EU) is one of Bangladesh’s largest export markets. The EU has been providing trade benefits like GSP and EBA to enhance trade relations with Bangladesh. He expressed optimism that this support would continue, further expanding bilateral trade. Rahman also called on Bangladeshi expatriates to contribute to building a “new Bangladesh” under the leadership of Chief Advisor of the caretaker government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. He expressed hope that more European investments would flow into Bangladesh and encouraged expatriate Bangladeshis and European investors to explore the pharmaceutical, capital market, agriculture, and other promising sectors.
Dr. Wali Tasar Uddin, head of the delegation and president of EBFCI, emphasized the high potential for investment in Bangladesh’s education, healthcare, and human resource development sectors. He added that interest in business and investment in Bangladesh has been growing among the new generation of expatriate businessmen.
During the open discussion, participants highlighted the importance of signing necessary trade agreements between Bangladesh and European countries and improving bilateral relations. They advised looking beyond the ethnic market (targeting expatriate Bangladeshi consumers) and focusing on penetrating mainstream European markets. Suggestions were made to enhance product diversification, packaging, marketing strategies, promotion, and branding. Additionally, business leaders urged for the simplification of customs and visa processes to ease trade operations.
Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) President Nasreen Fatema Awal, former Director of FBCCI, Non-Executive Director of EBFCI, Secretary General of FBCCI Md Alamgir, Head of International Wing Md Zafar Iqbal NDC and other business leaders were present in the meeting.
