Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Trade Representative Paul J. in his office at the Ministry in Dhaka todayTrade delegation led by Thoppil, CPA met.
During the meeting, Canada’s Indo-Pacific trade representative emphasized the importance of expanding trade and investment with Bangladesh. Welcoming the delegation, the Minister assured full cooperation from the Ministry in this regard.
The Industries Minister said that Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world which has attracted large and developed countries including Canada. This achievement was possible due to the efficient, strong and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu. Many countries including China, Japan, South Korea, India are investing in Bangladesh on a large scale. Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said Bangladesh has an investment-friendly environment with political stability, skilled workers at low wages and necessary infrastructure. He said that the current government has focused on infrastructure development including increasing communication network. Already, we have successfully implemented several major development projects including Padma Bridge, Dhaka Metrorail, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Third Terminal of Airport. Several other major projects including Matarbari Deep Sea Port, Bangabandhu Railway Bridge and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant are on the way. Considering these, Bangladesh is considered as the most attractive investment destination in South Asia.
Canadian Trade Representative Paul JThoppil, CPA said, We are interested in investing in Bangladesh on a large scale with far-reaching goals and objectives in mind. Through this, the commercial relations between the two countries will be strengthened and both sides will benefit. He said that the challenges in this regard such as protection of labor rights and enforcement of labor policy and fixing of tariffs are important and can be resolved through dialogue. He also said that Canada believes in multiculturalism and diversity. People of different languages and cultures have been coexisting there for a long time. Noting that Canada has skilled and world-class cyber security firms, the Canadian trade representative expressed the country’s desire to work in Bangladesh’s cyber security sector.
Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said that Bangladesh takes cyber security issue seriously. The ICT department is working in this regard under the leadership of Prime Minister’s ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Industry Minister said, we want good quality big investment from Canada. We want to use Canada’s experience and knowledge for the overall development of our industry. He said, apart from the garment industry, Bangladesh’s pharmaceuticals, leather and ship reprocessing industries have considerable potential. He also said that Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) and Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) are working to expand investment and trade in Bangladesh. 100 economic zones have been established across the country for industrialization and balanced economic development in Bangladesh. The Minister of Industry said that the institute under the Ministry of Industry has continued to provide regular training for the creation of skilled manpower in the Bitak industry and BSTI has continued to closely monitor the production of quality products. He called on Canada to work for the development of skills in the industrial sector of Bangladesh.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industry Zakia Sultana, High Commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industry Nilufar Nazneen, SM Alam and Kamrun Nahar Siddiqa were present during the meeting.