Karachi, 08 June 2023:

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, S. M. Mahbubul Alam addressed at the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) at its Headquarters in Hyderabad on 08 June 2023. Mr. Adeel Siddiqui, President of the HCCI, Mr. Najimuddin Qureshi, Senior Vice President, Mr. Awais Khan, Vice President, Mr. M. Rizwan, Secretary General and Managing Committee Members of HCCI including Former President of HCCI and other eminent industrialists, entrepreneurs, investors, and businessmen in Sindh were present at the program.

Mr. S. M. Mahbubul Alam, Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi 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. He further 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 other socio-economic developments. Highlighting the massive developments in communication networks, Deputy High Commissioner depicted 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 commented that the smooth communication networks because of constructions and widening and modernizing of hundreds of bridges and thousands of kilometers of road and railways across the country has been offering the ease of wider industrialization.

Deputy High Commissioner apprised the prominent entrepreneurs and businesspersons of HCCI, Hyderabad 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 – “My Village, My Town”.

The President, Senior Vice President, and other eminent businesspersons in their remarks expressed their deep appreciation to know the impressive success stories of Bangladesh. They were impressed to the recent socio-economic development in Bangladesh and they expressed their willingness to invest in Bangladesh and do more business with Bangladesh. Mentioning that Hyderabad the land of Indus Valley and its civilization is very fertile. They commented that there are huge commonalities and potentials between Bangladesh and Pakistan for stronger and mutually beneficial bilateral relationships including trade and investment. They also expressed their optimism that businessmen from both the countries could engage more for 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 Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (HCCI) to extend all possible cooperation for greater trade and commerce and economic relations between the two countries.