03Public and private sector leaders of Bangladesh and UK came together at “Showcase Bangladesh 2021: Bangladesh-UK Investment Summit”, to discuss the many win-win propositions that can take UK-Bangladesh trade and investment relations to new heights.
Speakers touched upon the compelling growth story of Bangladesh, with solid fundamentals and growth drivers leading to optimism about sustained growth. There is a long-term integrated masterplan in place that connects infrastructure, industry, agriculture, urbanisation, mitigation of climate change risk, and sustainability, leveraging each of these areas to create shared prosperity.
FDI and international technical collaboration will greatly accelerate the attainment of these sustainable development plans, with the speakers making the case for greater engagement for UK investors in Bangladesh, one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
The event was jointly organised by Standard Chartered and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and took place in London on November 4, 2021.Highly placed delegates representing UK public and private sectors, policymakers, investors, bankers andeconomists, along with prominent leaders from Bangladesh’s private and public sectors were in attendance.
Ms. Isabelle Jenkins, Leader of Leader of Industry for Financial Services, PwC United Kingdom; and Mr. Gavin Dunne, Director, M&A, Unilever UK also made remarks on why Bangladesh is a potential destination for investors in the UK, and what can be done to support the investment process. More than 100 representatives of businesses based in UK attended the engaging dialogue at the summit.
Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh said, “2021 is a very special year for Bangladesh, as we celebrate 50 years of our achievements as a nation.Despite the challenges posed by pandemic, the country achieved one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. The country is expected maintain a growth trajectory that will enable GDP to exceed economies like Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Denmark and others.”
Salman Fazlur Rahman Private Sector & Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, said,
“The sustained, broad-based growth Bangladesh achieved over the last decade did not happen by accident, it was achieved through insightful planning & visionary leadership of our Honourable Prime Minister- Thank you Prime Minister. Now, in order to beat the ‘middle-income trap’ and become a high-income nation by 2041, we need to continue to develop our domestic markets and diversify our export baskets – both of which would be catalysed by FDI & Domestic Investment”
Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, Honourable State Minister for ICT, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, said “12 years after the declaration of Digital Bangladesh by Honourable Prime Minister, we have achieved major milestones as a nation and have graduated to middle income status. ICT has played a role in this incredible journey and will continue to be a key enabler of our sustained progress.”
