Sri Lanka wants to sign a free trade agreement with Bangladesh to boost bilateral trade, the country’s ambassador in Dhaka said on Saturday.Sri Lanka has eased the taxation system to attract foreign investment and Bangladesh can take advantage of it, Sri Lankan ambassador WA Sarath K Weragoda told a meeting in Dhaka.He said, his country imported goods worth of $ 82.14 million from Bangladesh in 2013. There is scope to increase the import, he said.He said, Dhaka and Colombo should sign either a FTA or preferential trade agreement to boost bilateral trade.The discussion titled ‘Improving Export: Importing Country’s Perspective’ was held at the DCCI auditorium.Speaking at the discussion Iraqi Ambassador to Bangladesh Shakir Qasim Mahdi said bilateral trade between Dhaka and Baghdad is low despite good relations between the two countries.He called upon Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to invest in Iraq to get the benefits of Baghdad’s investment-friendly policy. He said, Iraqi plans to spend 40 per cent of its $ 130 billion-budget to attract foreign investment.President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Mohammad Shahjahan Khan urged Bangladesh missions abroad to do more to boost Dhaka’s exports.Country Manager of Australian Trade Commission Minhaz Chowdhury, Commercial Counsellor of Turkish Embassy in Dhaka Tulay Uyanik and Senior Manager of Korean Trade Centre Faruk Ahmed also presented papers at the discussion. DCCI senior vice president Osama, convener of DCCI’s export policy, promotion and diversification standing committee Tahsin Aman, DCCI vice president Kh Shahidul Islam, Directors Haider Ahmed Khan, FCA, Muktar Hossain Chowdhury, S Rumi Saifullah, Hossain A Sikder, Alhaj Abdus Salam, M Shoaib Choudhury, AKD Khair Mohammad Khan were also present and spoke on the occasion.
