UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh expects increased foreign direct investment (FDI) from Germany as the bilateral relationship between the two countries is more extensive than ever, says the Bangladesh envoy in Berlin.
“With the rapid development of infrastructure in recent years, development of SEZs and Hi-Tech Parks, easing power and energy crises; we’re expecting that FDI flow from Germany will increase,” Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Imtiaz Ahmed told UNB in an interview.
High officials of Siemens met him recently and they are also exploring opportunities in hi-tech apart from the power sector, said the Ambassador who is concurrently accredited to Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.
The envoy said the current excellent Bangladesh-Germany bilateral relationship is an outcome of the inter-personal intimacy between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Responding to a question, Ambassador Imtiaz said German officials advise Bangladesh to improve its ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index with suitable policies and infrastructure in the banking sector, with one stop service at airport and seaport and improving labour standard.
“Foreign businesses place great importance on this ranking before taking an investment decision,” said the Bangladesh Ambassador.
Each year, Bangladesh participates in a number of international fairs in Germany which are mainly trade and business promotion-oriented ones.
“There’s no alternative to the dissemination of information. Therefore, we’re planning to organise one investment seminar in Germany next year to showcase the incentives and opportunities for investment in Bangladesh,” said Ambassador Imtiaz.
The seminar will be organised in association with Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA).
“We’ve already talked to DIHK (equivalent to FBCCI), GTAI (equivalent to BIDA) and Federal Foreign Office from Germany for their possible involvement. And we’re also going to organise Bangladesh Day, where we’ll focus on every possible sector of Bangladesh, including painting, photographic, book, film and culinary,” said Ambassador Imtiaz.
Responding to a question on apparel exports, he said, Germany is globally one of the two largest importers of garments from Bangladesh and as sourcing country ranks second behind China.
Out of the top five sourcing countries Bangladesh is the only country to increase its export value in the first half of 2018. In recent times, Vietnam and Cambodia have become major competitors of Bangladesh due to their shorter lead-time.
“To maintain this position, Bangladesh needs to maintain its competitive edge…by continuing to deliver value for money for the competitive and price conscious German market without neglecting trends such as organic and vegan clothing, minimising the lead time, making doing business easy with policies and adequate infrastructure and modernising the industries,” he said.
Bangladesh expects increased foreign direct investment (FDI) from Germany as the bilateral relationship between the two countries is more extensive than ever, says the Bangladesh envoy in Berlin.
“With the rapid development of infrastructure in recent years, development of SEZs and Hi-Tech Parks, easing power and energy crises; we’re expecting that FDI flow from Germany will increase,” Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Imtiaz Ahmed told UNB in an interview.
High officials of Siemens met him recently and they are also exploring opportunities in hi-tech apart from the power sector, said the Ambassador who is concurrently accredited to Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.
The envoy said the current excellent Bangladesh-Germany bilateral relationship is an outcome of the inter-personal intimacy between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Responding to a question, Ambassador Imtiaz said German officials advise Bangladesh to improve its ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index with suitable policies and infrastructure in the banking sector, with one stop service at airport and seaport and improving labour standard.
“Foreign businesses place great importance on this ranking before taking an investment decision,” said the Bangladesh Ambassador.
Each year, Bangladesh participates in a number of international fairs in Germany which are mainly trade and business promotion-oriented ones.
“There’s no alternative to the dissemination of information. Therefore, we’re planning to organise one investment seminar in Germany next year to showcase the incentives and opportunities for investment in Bangladesh,” said Ambassador Imtiaz.
The seminar will be organised in association with Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA).
“We’ve already talked to DIHK (equivalent to FBCCI), GTAI (equivalent to BIDA) and Federal Foreign Office from Germany for their possible involvement. And we’re also going to organise Bangladesh Day, where we’ll focus on every possible sector of Bangladesh, including painting, photographic, book, film and culinary,” said Ambassador Imtiaz.
Responding to a question on apparel exports, he said, Germany is globally one of the two largest importers of garments from Bangladesh and as sourcing country ranks second behind China.
Out of the top five sourcing countries Bangladesh is the only country to increase its export value in the first half of 2018. In recent times, Vietnam and Cambodia have become major competitors of Bangladesh due to their shorter lead-time.
“To maintain this position, Bangladesh needs to maintain its competitive edge…by continuing to deliver value for money for the competitive and price conscious German market without neglecting trends such as organic and vegan clothing, minimising the lead time, making doing business easy with policies and adequate infrastructure and modernising the industries,” he said.
