Karachi, 30 August 2022:

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, S. M. Mahbubul Alam had several business meetings and interactions with the prominent industrialists, entrepreneurs and businessmen in Karachi during last few days. The Deputy High Commissioner had meetings and interactions among others with Mr. Mujeebullah Khan, Chief Executive Officer of iTextiles, Mr. Nasir H. Schon, Chief Executive of Schon Group of Industries, Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Chairman of Baig Group of Industries, Mr. Mirza Ishtiak Baig, Vice-Chairman of Baig Group of Industries, Dr. Javed Mushtaq, Chief Executive Officer of Dreamland International, Mr. Gulrez Shoaib, Managing Director of Kreation Korporation Ltd, Senior Representative from Thal Limited (including Thal Jute), Senior Management of the Indigo Textiles Limited, Mr. Byram Avari, Chairman of Avari Group, Mr. Jehangir Shah, Deputy Managing Director of Pak Oman Investment Company Limited, Mr. Shoaib Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of Premier Cables Limited, and Mr. Waqar Ahmed Malik, Chairman, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Fauji Group of Companies.

During the meetings and interactions, the Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam briefed the leading industrialists, investors, entrepreneurs and businesspersons in Karachi about various development initiatives and sectoral achievements in Bangladesh. He said that Bangladesh has become a ‘Role Model’ of socio-economic development in the world. He shared the success stories of socio-economic progress in Bangladesh and cited that Bangladesh has constructed the 6.15-kilometer-long Padma Bridge by her own finance, which is a symbol of her pride and confidence.

Deputy High Commissioner also apprised the prominent entrepreneurs and businesspersons in Pakistan that Bangladesh is now among the five fastest growing economies in the world, ranking 41st in terms of GDP. Over the past decade, poverty rate in Bangladesh reduced from 31.5%to 20.5% and per capita income reached to more than threefold in just one decade to USD2,227. He further briefed the entrepreneurs that Bangladesh has made impressive progress in women empowerment. He added that according to WEF, Bangladesh is ranked 7^th in the world in terms of political empowerment of women. The ‘Digital Bangladesh’ initiative has stimulated transformative impacts on socio-economic development, education, disaster risk reduction, and women’s empowerment, he added. The heavy investment in women’s advancement and empowerment contributed to Bangladesh’s transformative development. The Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam also shared the vision that the present government of Bangladesh has been striving hard to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041.

The Deputy High Commissioner categorically elaborated on the potential of trade and commerce and investment in Bangladesh. He attached importance to harness the economic potential for promoting trade and investment between the two countries. He further briefed the potential investors and entrepreneurs on the exclusive facilities and incentives Bangladesh offers for foreign investment in Bangladesh. Deputy High Commissioner invited the potential investors, entrepreneurs and businesspersons from Pakistan to avail the Bangladesh’s offers and enjoy opportunity to further enhance economic cooperation for mutual benefits.

During the meeting and interactions, the industrialists, investors and businesspersons of Pakistan highly appreciated the socio-economic developments in Bangladesh. They also expressed candidly that Bangladesh is truly an example and encouragement for other developing countries across the globe in general and in the region in particular. They commented that they were encouraged by the impressive success stories of Bangladesh’s socio-economic developments. They expressed their interests for wider trade and commerce and investment with Bangladesh. They also expressed their conviction that there are huge potentials for greater trade and investments between the countries.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam assured the industrialists, entrepreneurs, investors and businessmen from Pakistan to extend all possible cooperation for greater trade and commerce and economic relations between the two counties.