UK-Bangladesh dialogue to enhance trade, investment next January: Commerce minister
Britain is giving importance to Bangladesh for trade and investment in the post-Brexit period
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said a government-to-government meeting between Bangladesh and the UK will be held in January next year to increase trade and investment between the two countries.
He made the statement at a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Thursday, said a press release from the commerce ministry.
Tipu Munshi said, "Bangladesh has had an economic and trading relationship with the UK for a long time now. The UK is Bangladesh's third largest export market. There is plenty of scope to enhance commerce between the two countries."
Robert Chatterton Dickson said Britain is giving importance to Bangladesh for trade and investment in the post-Brexit period. Detailed programmes in this regard will be launched through trade talks between the two countries.
During the meeting, the commerce minister said, "Bangladesh is feeling enthusiastic about the fact that Britain is showing interest in investing here following the Brexit. Discussions on commerce are necessary to channel trade and investment in the right direction."
The commerce minister also said Britain has many investments in Bangladesh and will welcome more trade and investments here.
Mentioning that the work to set up 100 special economic zones is progressing rapidly, the minister said, "The British investors will benefit from investing here. Bangladesh government has made an announcement about providing many facilities for the foreign investments."
The commerce minister also expressed his hope that Britain will continue to provide Bangladesh trade facilities, which we are currently enjoying, even after the country graduates from a least developed country to a developing country in 2024.
Bangladesh is also trying to create trading facilities with different countries through preferential trade agreements and free trade agreements, said the press release.
During the meeting, the British high commissioner assured the commerce minster that the ongoing British trade and investment in Bangladesh and trade facilities will continue and will will be enhanced further in future as well.
According to the commerce ministry, Bangladesh exported goods worth around $3.4 billion to the UK last year and imported goods worth around $410 million from there.
