The Commerce Minister made the request when the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen met him at his secretariat office here today.
Terming China as the largest trade and economic partner of Bangladesh, Tipu said that China is supporting Bangladesh a lot in moving forward the country’s development spree especially in the mega projects, said a Ministry press release.
He mentioned that following the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the work on the countrywide special economic zones, is going on in full swing while many are almost on the completion stage.
He also suggested the Chinese investors to visit the Northern part of Bangladesh adding that efforts would be there to simplify further their investment procedures.
Highlighting the role of the country’s ICT sector in building a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041, Tipu said that the Chinese entrepreneurs could seize such opportunity as Bangladesh is eying to bag $5 billion per year from this sector. Besides, he cited that the country’s leather, ICT, light engineering sectors bear high investment potentials.
In response, the Chinese Ambassador said that China attaches higher priority on its relationship with Bangladesh while it has been supporting the South Asian country in implementing mega projects.
Wen said that China would continue to provide support to Bangladesh in building ‘Smart Bangladesh” as the country is also ready to make investment in many development projects including in the power sector.
In order to reduce the trade gap, he said that China has been providing duty free access on some 98 percent Bangladeshi products to its market while a joint working group has been working to ink Bangladesh-China Free Trade Agreement.
Commerce Ministry additional secretary Nur Mohammad Mahbubul Haque was present among others on the occasion.
