bdnews24.com :
A high-level German business “fact finding” mission has expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh having found the country’s socio-economic and political conditions favourable for trade and investment.
According to the foreign ministry, the team told foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Friday that there had been “a negative campaign” against Bangladesh in the international media.
But their visit revealed that “the socio-economic condition and political situation in Bangladesh are very conducive for trade, investment and development”.
A ten-member German business delegation, led by Wilhelm G Clasen, Member of the Board of the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV) and Chairman of OAV Bangladesh Committee is currently in Dhaka.
They called on the foreign minister at the State Guest House Padma. State Minister for foreign affairs Md. Shahriar Alam and German ambassador Albrecht Conze were present at the meeting.
According to the foreign ministry, Clasen assured the foreign minister that they would inform the German stakeholders, including political parties, businessmen and the media that “the overall situation in Bangladesh is very much favorable for trade and investment”.
They expressed their satisfaction with the current development initiatives in Bangladesh.
They also praised the “resilience and determination” of Bangladeshi people, saying that the country was on the right track.
The foreign ministry said the Germans showed interest in investing in railway network expansion and improvement, in-land water transport, water treatment and waste management.
They were eager to invest in a machine parts factory to cater to the regional market and were considering funding a power plant generating electricity from garbage and waste.
The delegation comprised representatives from textile, jute and natural fiber derivatives, water purification and solution, transport and logistics service, secured energy supply as well as policy making and financing sectors.
The foreign ministry said the team wanted to come to Bangladesh last year, but had to reschedule the visit because of political unrest.
Now they were happy that they could come, they said in a media release.
The Foreign Minister told the delegation on the government’s efforts to bring in Foreign Direct Investment by stepping up bilateral cooperation.
He also said that the economy had gathered momentum, exports had grown and foreign investors and importers were showing renewed interest in the country’s booming economy.
The foreign minister welcomed their interest in improving Bangladesh’s water, railway and road infrastructure, the areas the government was focusing on as well.
He promised them of all out support.
The two-way trade between Bangladesh and Germany had crossed the $ 4 billion mark last year.
Bangladesh goods enjoy duty-free access to the Germany market, just as it does in European Union countries.
