Turkish businessmen keen to invest in Bangladesh

Turkish businessmen are keen to invest in Bangladesh, said Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh, Mustafa Osman Turan, on a courtesy visit to the office of FBCCI president Md Jashim Uddin, on Wednesday.  

"Construction, food processing technology and equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical tourism, medical equipment, ICT, software development, startup development, leather, and jute are some of the highly prospective areas for joint partnership," he said.  

At the meeting, the Turkish ambassador and the FBCCI president both expressed interest in increasing the volume of bilateral trade and investment between Bangladesh and Turkey, said a press release. 

The Turkish envoy requested the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry or FBCCI, to engage with the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) to identify other sectors and businessmen for further trade, and to arrange B2B meetings on the Turkey-Bangladesh Business Council platform.

FBCCI president Md Jashim Uddin requested the Turkish government to finalise negotiations on signing a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and to consider signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh as both Turkey and Bangladesh have numerous products that have good demand in both countries, with trade potential.

Smoother trade can complement the growth of exports and imports between the two brotherly countries, utilizing their comparative advantages, he said.

The FBCCI president also appreciated Turkey's diversified trade with different countries and the efficiency of the country's authorities.

He also requested the ambassador to invest in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) where Bangladesh may offer a dedicated economic zone to Turkish investors.

He said Turkey can share its expertise in construction and tourism and invest in the development of tourism infrastructure in Bangladesh.

The Turkish ambassador said Bangladesh and Turkey can negotiate on tariffs at the next Turkey Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission meeting.

They both suggested exchange of visits between Bangladesh & Turkey when the Covid situation subsides.

FBCCI senior vice-president Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, vice-presidents MA Momen, Md Amin Helaly, Md Habib Ullah Dawn, Salahuddin Alamgir, MA Razzak Khan, director Mohammed Bazlur Rahman, and FBCCI CEO, Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, were also present at the meeting.