Karachi, 22 September 2022: 

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, S. M. Mahbubul Alam had a meeting with the high officials at the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) at its Headquarters in Karachi. Mr. Ahsan Ali Mangi, Secretary of the TDAP, Mr. Athar Hussain Khokhar, Director-General for International Trade of the TDAP and Mr. Abdullah Ghauri, Assistant Director, International Trade of the TDAP were present during the meeting. 

During the meeting and interaction, the Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam highlighted the officials of the Trade Promotion Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) on various socio-economic achievements in Bangladesh. He said that Bangladesh has become a ‘Role Model’ of socio-economic development in the world. He categorically mentioned that Bangladesh is currently among the five fastest growing economies in the world, ranking 41st in terms of GDP. He 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 elaborately described about the potential of trade and commerce and investment in Bangladesh. He requested the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to encourage the relevant prominent businesspersons and firms from Pakistan to import more products and items such as raw jute, tea, chemical fertilizer, garments, leather and lather products, and pharmaceutical products from 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 and 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.

The Secretary of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the Director General of International Trade of TDAP highly appreciated the socio-economic developments in Bangladesh. They also expressed candidly that Bangladesh is an emerging developing country, which is a model for other developing countries. They commented that the impressive success story of Bangladesh’s socio-economic developments is also an encouragement for their own country as well. They, however, commented that Pakistan is one of the major sources of cotton and cotton yarn, minerals and fabrics, live animals, dairy products, edible fruits and nuts, animal and vegetable fat and oil for Bangladesh’s import. They expressed their opinion that there is huge potential for the promotion of trade and commerce between the two countries and expressed their optimism that the exports and imports from both the countries would increase.   

Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam discussed about the upcoming 35^th Meeting of the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) to be held during 18-20 October 2022 in Dhaka, which would be organized by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh. He further mentioned that the 35^th CEOs meeting in Dhaka is aimed to expand trade within the Asia region and to discuss the challenges and potential of trade and commerce among the member countries. As the host country, Bangladesh has already extended invitation to all the 23-member countries namely Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. The TDAP Secretary informed that they have already received their invitation and have been preparing to participate in the CEOs Meetings of the Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) in Bangladesh. The TDAP has also expressed their keen interest to participate as usually at the upcoming month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair to be held in January 2023. They also enquired about other trade fairs to be arranged in Bangladesh where they could participate. The TDAP officials also requested the businesspersons and firms from Bangladesh to participate at different international trade fairs they organize mentioning that there would be four such fairs during 2023, where Bangladesh might participate. 

Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam assured the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to extend all possible cooperation and expressed his optimism to engage actively for the promotion of trade and commerce between the two countries. Deputy High Commissioner presented the TDAP officials a publication titled: Bangabandhu: The People’s Hero.