Karachi, 25 February 2024:

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, S. M. Mahbubul Alam addressed at the Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) at its Headquarters in Sukkur on 23 February 2024. President of the SCCI, and Managing Committee Members and Office bearers of the SCCI and other eminent industrialists, entrepreneurs, investors, and businessmen in Sukkur in the Province of Sindh were present at the meeting and interactions.

Deputy High Commissioner highlighted in details the potential of trade and commerce and investment in Bangladesh. He elaborated on the exclusive facilities and incentives Bangladesh offers for foreign trade and investment. He further mentioned that Bangladesh has been working hard to establish 100 Specialized Economic Zones (SEZs) across the country with foreign investment-friendly policies. Foreign investors are being attracted to invest in Bangladesh and few countries have already established their industries SEZs in Bangladesh. Deputy High Commissioner briefed that the electricity generation in Bangladesh was only 4,000MW in 2009 which is currently over 25,000MW and Bangladesh has already achieved 100% electricity coverage across the country. He further mentioned that the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ initiative has stimulated transformative impacts on industrialization, and on all on socio-economic developments including education, ICT, disaster risk reduction, communication, social safety nets, and women’s education & empowerment, reduction of poverty, and so forth in Bangladesh. Deputy High Commissioner also highlighted on different mega projects in Bangladesh such as Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Deep-Sea Port, Bangabandhu Satellite-1, and other vital completed and on-going projects. He also detailed on the smooth communication networks across Bangladesh because of constructions and widening and modernizing of hundreds of bridges and thousands of kilometers of road and railways across the country. 

Deputy High Commissioner apprised the prominent entrepreneurs and businesspersons of Sukkur Chambers in Interior Sindh that Bangladesh is now among the five fastest growing economies in the world, ranking 35^th in terms of GDP. He added that the per capita income of Bangladesh is USD2824 and the income and purchasing power of the people of Bangladesh including those living the rural areas have increased. Bangladesh has been working to make all the civic amenities available in the villages. He added that Bangladesh is a huge pool of relatively cheaper and competent manpower and Bangladesh herself is a big market. Bangladesh is therefore, a very potential destination of trade, commerce and investment. Deputy High Commissioner invited the businessmen from Sukkur to explore the potential of trade and commerce and investment in Bangladesh.  During his speech at the SCCI, Deputy High Commissioner invited the potential investors, industrialist, entrepreneurs and businesspersons from Pakistan to invest in Bangladesh and to import products from Bangladesh. He also invited business delegation from Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry to visit Bangladesh and to engage with their counterparts and businessmen and business organizations in Bangladesh including the FBCCI.

The Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) office bearers expressed their deep appreciation to know the impressive success stories of Bangladesh. They were impressed to the recent socio-economic development in Bangladesh. They also expressed their willingness to invest in Bangladesh and do more business with Bangladesh. The SCCI President in his remarks commented that there are huge commonalities and potentials between Bangladesh and Pakistan for stronger bilateral relationships including trade and investment. He further stressed on the business chambers from both the countries to coordinate robustly for the mutual economic benefits. The SCCI President echoing the demand from other eminent businesspersons in Sukkur requested for easing of visa regime particular for the businessmen and business delegation from both the countries to enhance business activities and economic relationships and to foster cooperation, trade, and people-to-people contact between the two countries. The SCCI President also attached importance to exchange more business delegations from both the sides. He also expressed his optimism that businessmen from both the countries could undertak joint ventures in various potential sectors, such as agriculture, food processing, textile, real estate, cement, energy and IT sectors. During the Q&A Session, almost all the businesspersons showed their interests in wider and smooth business relationships between Bangladesh and Pakistan.  

 Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam expressing his sincere thanks and gratitude for warm hospitality assured the leading businesspersons from Sukkur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) to extend all possible cooperation for greater trade and commerce and economic relations between the two countries.