PM says Mongla-Mirsarai SEZs are for Indian investors
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has invited Indian business houses to set up industries in Bangladesh through Buy-Back arrangements by reducing time, cost and resources and explore export opportunities in the South East Asian markets.
“I would urge Indian investors to consider possible investments in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, in energy and transport sectors,” said Sheikh Hasina at an exclusive meeting of selected CEOs organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on 7 Sept 2022.
Elaborated the PM during her visit to India, “Bangladesh is uniquely located to enable Indian investors to export their products to not only the North Eastern States of India, but also to Nepal, Bhutan and to South East Asian countries.
“Presently, 100 Special Economic Zones and 28 High-Tech Parks are being established for diversity of industry, employment, production and export,” she highlighted.
The visiting PM informed that two dedicated Special Economic Zones at Mongla and Mirsarai (in Bangladesh) were being developed for Indian investors.
“I would urge the (Indian) business houses present here today to invest there. It would further pave the way to harness the goodwill of the two friendly countries, and bring economic prosperity to the region,” she stressed.
G. Kishan Reddy, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region of India, Tourism and Culture, added, “Bilateral trade in the recent past has witnessed a quantum jump. Exports from Bangladesh, for the first time, have touched US$2 billion this year. India is now the largest export destination for Bangladesh in Asia.”
The Minister pointed out that several sectors have the potential of cooperation between India and Bangladesh which include fashion fiber and design, handicrafts and handloom, food processing and agro-commodities.
CII President Sanjiv Bajaj added that energy and infrastructure as well as connectivity can be used for shared prosperity between the two South Asian countries, which have one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
He further said that experience with Digital India should be leveraged to sync it better with Digital Bangladesh to offer more digital and financial inclusion.
“Bangladesh is a rising power in the field of ICT and companies on both sides should establish partnerships in newer technologies like nanotechnology, robotics, Internet of Things, cyber security and AI, among others,” he stressed.
Md. Jashim Uddin, President, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said, “Bangladesh is modernizing the business environment through digitalization, quality infrastructural development, efficient logistic sector, diversification of energy and power sector among others to facilitate business and has become a role model for inclusive development and climate change”.
CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee added that CII could take up setting up an industrial training institute in Bangladesh by establishing a training institute for quality management with assistance from both sides, working on green building ratings and sustainable development and helping to develop capacity building programs for Bangladeshi SMEs.
CII and Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) signed an MoU in the presence of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh who visited India 5-9 Sept 2022. fiinews.com
