'Best of Bangladesh Europe' kicks off in Amsterdam

The first-ever "Best of Bangladesh" exposition in Europe – exhibiting only Bangladeshi products–started in the prestigious venue of Wastergas in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Monday.

At the inauguration ceremony, Tipu Munshi, commerce minister, of the Government of Bangladesh, said, "Bangladesh has come a long way in the past half-century. Emerging from a brutal war of independence and facing various constraints, the aspirations, innovations, and resilience of our people have led us to a state of stability and strong growth."

The two-day national branding event has been organised by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), with support from the Embassy of Bangladesh, Ministry of Commerce, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh, and in association with PDS.

Addressing the event, Michiel Sweers, vice minister of Foreign Economic Relations for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, expressed, "On behalf of the Dutch government, I extend my gratitude for selecting Amsterdam as the venue for the Best of Bangladesh event. I firmly believe that the discussions held here at Best of Bangladesh will significantly boost the progress of sustainable business initiatives."

Shahriar Alam, state minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed, "The gathering of some of our most outstanding entrepreneurs at Westergas reflects the maturation of our private sector's drive and innovation. They are moving beyond labour-centric manufacturing and are increasingly enthusiastic about diversifying into various sectors. Beyond business, they are also here to explore opportunities for collaboration in niche technology and innovation with their Dutch and European counterparts."

Prof Jan Peter Balkenende, minister of state and former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in his video message, put emphasis on the Netherlands and Bangladesh's cooperation for sustainable growth.

Mostafiz Uddin, founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, said "Best of Bangladesh Europe is a testament to Bangladesh's ability in sustainable and responsible manufacturing."

M Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands, emphasised, "Contemporary Bangladesh is deeply engaged with Europe, not to mention the Netherlands, for a multitude of economic considerations. The burgeoning trade volume stands as just one of these pillars."

Three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in the inaugural for the development of the industries of Bangladesh.

The 1st MoU was signed between Bangladesh Apparel Exchange and the Eindhoven International Project Office (EIPO).

The 2nd MoU was signed between Bangladesh Apparel Exchange and Apparel Impact Institute.

The 3rd MoU was signed between Bangladesh Apparel Exchange and Oxfam.

More than 35 diverse companies, spanning apparel, textiles, agriculture, handicrafts, and various sectors, took part in the event. "Best of Bangladesh" anticipates over 1000 European visitors, including representatives from brands and retailers, over the course of two days.

Md Siddiqur Rahman,  former president of BGMEA; Leslie Johnston, chief executive officer, Laudes Foundation; Pallak Seth, founder, and vice chairman, PDS Limited; and Mostafiz Uddin, founder, and CEO, of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange; also attended the event.