Leaders of the Turkish Trade delegation, now visiting Bangladesh, on Monday said Bangladesh is a favorable destination for Turkish investors and the business environment, policy & regulatory regime and overall business environment here is congenial for investment.
The delegation visited Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and held a view exchange meeting with the DCCI leaders.
The 14-member Turkish business delegation from Turkey-Bangladesh Business Council was led by its Chairperson Hulya Gedik met DCCI President Rizwan Rahman and the members of the Board of Directors. Ambassador of Turkey in Bangladesh Mustafa Osman TURAN was also accompanied the delegation.
During the meeting DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said that in FY2020-21 Bangladesh’s export to Turkey was USD 499.79 million. In FY 2019-20 total trade with Turkey was USD 686.41 million out of which Bangladesh’s export was USD 453 million against the import of USD 233.41 million reflecting a positive trade balance of USD220.06 million in favour of Bangladesh.
He said that infrastructure, construction materials, railway, renewable energy, automobile, healthcare, medical equipment, shipbuilding, agriculture, home appliance etc. are some of the potential areas for Turkish investment. Turkey sourced only 0.21% of its import from Bangladesh, he informed.
He also said that under Turkey’s “Asia Anew” initiative, Bangladesh can be a key focus of Turkey for trade and investment. He also called upon to utilize Turkey-Bangladesh Business Council to facilitate both-way trade and investment.
Chairperson of Turkey-Bangladesh Business Council and leader of the business delegation Hulya Gedik said Bangladesh is not much known to Turkish entrepreneurs due to lack of communication and contact.
She also urged upon sustainability of trade relation between Bangladesh and Turkey, saying that they have opened a ‘Bangladesh Business Centre’ in Turkey to facilitate Turkish entrepreneurs to know more on how to start business in Bangladesh.
Ambassador of Turkey in Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan said Bangladesh is going to be a developed nation by 2041 and Turkey wants to be the 10th largest economy but without partnership these goals will not be achieved.
He also said that Bangladesh’s ICT, pharmaceutical and light engineering sector have good potentials to attract FDI.
Commercial Counsellor of Turkish Embassy Kenan KALAYCI said that in the last nine months the bilateral trade volume increased about 20%. He expected that the total trade between Turkey and Bangladesh would reach the mark of USD 2 billion soon.