Communications network is being built across the country through improving water, rail, roads and airways link. The country’s improved channels of communications can commercially bridge the East with the West.
There was only one international airport in Dhaka in 1996. The airports in Chattogram and Sylhet have been turned into international ones. Work is in progress for another international airport in the country’s biggest tourist hub Cox's Bazar.
In terms of Bangladesh’s seaports, besides the country's largest sea port in Chottogram, the development work of Mongla port is progressing fast. Very recently the Payra Bridge has been opened to traffic.
Furthermore, the highly anticipated Payra port is set to emerge as a deep sea port soon.
In the light of these events, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that investment in Bangladesh would mean an opportunity to avail the market of South and Southeast Asia. Bangladesh will soon be a bridge between the East and the West for expanding businesses.
The PM made the comment while inaugurating the weeklong "Bangladesh Trade and Investment Summit-2021" at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). She spoke as the chief guest at the event joining virtually from her Ganabhaban residence.
"Bangladesh will be developed as a communication bridge between the East and the West in the foreseeable future. Whoever comes to invest in Bangladesh will get an opportunity to capture South Asia and Southeast Asian market," she said.
The PM added that the improved communications network will further help expand trade and commerce in the country.
She said, “Besides all the existing airports and the ones in progress, Syedpur airport is being developed as a regional one so that the neighboring countries can also use it.”
The Prime Minister further said that there is extensive development in work in progress at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar centring the new sea port, which will also turn into a deep sea port in the future.
Speaking at the event, Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen said, “The government has been working relentlessly to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by the year 2041. Today, the country is often cited as a role model for development by the international community.”
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi in his speech shared that the vision is to graduate Bangladesh’s economy to a developing economy by 2026.
“This journey would lead to improved economic stature of the country generating more trade and investment opportunities. This milestone summit is likely to speed up the required expedition in the post-LDC era,” said the minister.
The event was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) as part of the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the country's independence.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Md. Jashim Uddin and President of DCCI Rizwan Rahman also spoke at the inauguration event.
A total of 552 companies from 38 countries along with Bangladesh from five continents will participate in 450 business-to-business (B2B) match-making sessions, which will help explore new business opportunities and attract FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in Bangladesh.
Six webinars until 1st November will take place on different trade and investment-related issues which are scheduled to be organized, where representatives from the business community, experts from local and international and policymakers will participate to put their insights on these issues.
