Bangladesh, UK to discuss trade, investment issues in January

Dhaka (Dec 3, 2020): Bangladesh and the United Kingdom are going to have a government-to-government (G2G) meeting in January next, in a bid to pursue post-Brexit trade and investment opportunities between the two countries, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said on Thursday.  

Mentioning that the UK is the third largest export destination of Bangladeshi products, the minister said there are still opportunities to boost trade and commerce between the countries and thereby strengthen long-standing friendship.  

He made the comments while speaking to British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Robert Chatterton Dickson, during a meeting at the office room of the former’s residence in Dhaka, reads a press release.  

The minister hoped that the UK will give due importance to Bangladesh in its post-Brexit trade policy.

There is plenty of British investment in Bangladesh, said Tipu, adding that Bangladesh is ready to welcome more in the days to come. 

The government’s move to build 100 special economic zones in different parts of the country is going on.

Already, China, Japan, South Korea, India, among others, have come forward to invest in those economic areas, said the commerce minister, adding that British investors will also be benefited if they invest there.  

Bangladesh will graduate from the least developed country (LDC) status in 2024.

The minister hoped that the UK will keep providing the existing trade opportunities even after Bangladesh graduates into a developing country.

He also expressed gratitude to the UK for helping Bangladesh deal with the Rohingya refugee crisis. 

During the meeting, British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson said the UK is giving due importance to Bangladesh in its post-Brexit trade and investment policy. 

It is possible to adopt a detailed action plan by holding trade dialogues between the two countries, said the envoy, adding that the British government is interested in holding such dialogues to boost trade and investment.   

The high commissioner assured that existing trade opportunities, which Bangladesh enjoys in the UK market, will continue.

The efforts will be on to increase the facilities in the days to come, he added. 

This is worth mentioning that the UK is one of the largest export destinations of Bangladeshi products.