CHITTAGONG, Dec 13: A branch of a Russian Bank will soon be opened in Bangladesh to establish banking channel aimed at expanding cooperation in the private sector.
This was disclosed by Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexander I Ignatov today.
He said this while exchanging views with the leaders of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the CCCI office at World Trade Centre at Agrabad in the city this afternoon. Russia's Acting Consul General in Chittagong Viacheslav Zakharov accompanied him.
He said bilateral relation between Bangladesh and Russia is very excellent and both the countries are working together for welfare of their people. Ambassador Alexander said the private sectors of both the countries must work together for full use of the potentials of cooperation.
The bright example of cooperation is the $11 billion worth nuclear power centre which is being constructed in Bangladesh with support of the Russian Federation. Russia is eager to come forward with more financial support for Bangladesh, he said.
Presided over by CCCI president Mahbubul Alam the meeting was attended by CCCI senior vice president Nurun Newaz Selim, Chittagong Port Chairman Rear Admiral M Khaled Iqbal, former CCCI president Engineer Ali Ashraf, Assistant High Commissioner of India Aninda Banerjee, Honourary Consul of Japan Nurul Islam, Chittagong Custom House Commissioner AKM Nuruzzaman, Daily Purbokone managing editor Jashim Uddin Chowdhury, Anjan Shekhar Das, Mahfuzul Huq Shah, Ameer Alihussain, Kamal Mostafa Chowdhury, director of the Export Promotion Bureau Kankan Chakma, Lub-rref (BD) director Salauddin Yusuf and architect Asif Imran.
Alexander invited the CCCI leaders to join the Business Forum to be held in Russian in June 2018 and emphasised on setting up air cargo transportation connectivity and direct sea-borne links for expansion of trade and business.
CCCI president said Russia is one of the major development partners of Bangladesh and the annual trade volume between the two countries is worth US Dollar 1.5 billion. But there is no direct banking channel between the two countries for which we have to conduct business through a third country. He called for forming sector-wise sub-committee in line with the agreement signed for constituting joint commission between the two countries in March this year.
Chittagong Port chairman M Khaled Iqbal said the government is working to make the business cost-effective and timesaving. The Port will soon conduct a survey to set up another port in Sitakunda. He sought Russia's cooperation in the ship building industry of Bangladesh.
CCCI SVP Nurun Newaz Selim Russia is a very potential market for Bangladesh readymade garment (RMG). He requested Russia to allow duty-free access of the BD RMG for further expansion of bilateral trade and cooperation.
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