Doha, 09 March 2023
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Wazed Hasina has stressed on the need of forming joint business forum between Bangladesh and Qatar for mutual economic benefits.
She was addressing at Bangladesh investment summit titled "The Rise of Bengal Tiger: Trade & Investment potentials in Bangladesh
held recently at Hotel Ritz Carlton Doha organised by Bangladesh Forum Qatar, Bangladesh Embassy Qatar, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority.
A 50 member Bangladeshi business delegation was also accompanying the Bangladesh prime minister who was in Doha to attend United Nations 5th Conference on Least Developed Countries.
Present on the occasion were Dr. AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Minikster of Bangladesh; Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim AlThani, President Qatari Businessmen Association; HE Sultan bin Rashid AlKhatter, Undersecretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Sheikha Alanaoud AlThani, Deputy CEO of Qatar Financial Center; Prof. Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam, Chairman, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC); Lokman Hossain Miah, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), large number of Qatari and Bangladeshi business leaders and entrepreneurs.
In her address at the summit, she invited Qarari business delegation to Bangladesh to invest in nation building efforts, specially in renewable energy, energy distribution system, agro-pricessing industries, tourism sector, capital market wnd high tech parks.
She said that Bangladesh is among world's top ten remitance earning countries and 35th largest economy with GDP of US$ 460 billion. We are prepared to become 24th largest by first half of 2030, she said.
She said that Bangladesh has one of the most liberal investment regimes in the region.
In his keynote speech, Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), said: "Bangladesh and Qatar have been enjoying a healthy economic relationship for over four decades, which has significantly grown in recent years. This is evidenced in the exponential growth of the two nations' trade volume rising from QAR 948 million in 2017 to more than QAR 10 billion in 2022."
Al-Jaida added: "Beyond ICT, energy and human capital, there are numerous areas where we can expand mutually beneficial investment and partnerships, such as agriculture, technology education, tourism, culture, sports, and finance."
Sheikha Alanoud Bint Hamad Al-Thani, Deputy CEO & Chief Business Officer, QFC, also participated in the summit as a speaker in a panel discussion titled: “Trade and Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh & Qatar”. During the panel, Sheikha Alanoud stressed the role of the QFC in expanding the bilateral partnership between Qatar and Bangladesh.
Sheikha Alanoud said, "The QFC is a platform that facilitates investment between Qatar and the world. We actively collaborate with local Bangladeshi organisations on initiatives that stimulate bilateral investment opportunities. We also offer a plethora of benefits that can help Bangladeshi businesses effectively navigate and thrive in the Qatari market and serve as an effective springboard for them to expand to markets in the Middle East and North Africa."
On the sidelines of the summit, the QFC also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Summit Oil & Shipping Company Limited, a leading infrastructure developer engaged in developing, owning and operating power generation assets, with the purpose of setting up business with the QFCA to explore business opportunities and expand its presence in Qatar and beyond.
Speaking about the MoU, Alanoud said, "We are pleased to enter into an agreement with a company committed to sustainable growth and look forward to discussing future investment and business opportunities for Summit in Qatar.
Earlier, in start of the conference, Bangladesh designated ambassador to State of Qatar Mohammad Nazrul Islam welcomed the guests and participants. It was his first appearance in public.
Prof. Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam, Chairman, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC); and Lokman Hossain Miah, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) gave a detailed presentation on achievements, business trends and sectors attractive for investments.
A panel discussion was also part of the event conducted by Miss Shiban Khan.
On behalf of Bangladesh Forum Qatar, President Shahed Ahmed, Mohammad Shafiqul Islam and Ashfaq Lincoln presented a memento to Prime Minister Hasina Wazed.
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Such an informative article. Thank you Mr. Ashraf Siddiqui