SYLHET, Mar 14: Speakers at an exchange of views meeting stressed the need for improving the investment climate in Sylhet and other regions of the country in order to increase the export volume.
A group of officials from the EU Delegation in Bangladesh joined the meeting organised by the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) at its conference room in the city on Tuesday.
Charge d'affaires of the EU Delegation Konstantinos Vardakis said the bilateral relations between the European Union and Bangladesh is very strong and it is growing further.
Bangladesh's largest RMG export destination is Germany, he said, adding that there have been investment opportunities in some other sectors like IT and tourism.
He also said the EU defends a liberal trade regime that benefits not only developed economics but also the developing and LDC nations like Bangladesh.
The EU Delegation officials said that as an essential partner, the EU is helping Bangladesh achieve its goal of growing at 8.0 per cent to become a middle-income country by 2021.
The EU-Bangladesh trade volume stood at over 19 billion euro in 2016, leaving Bangladesh with a trade surplus of almost 13 billion, they noted.
Bangladesh needs to attract more foreign FDI and it would require policy reforms in ways that should aim to ensure a simple, transparent and predictable business environment for local as well as foreign private sectors, they said.
SCCI President Khondaker Shiper Ahmed chaired the meeting.
Deputy Head of mission at the embassy of Germany Michael Schultheiss, Trade Advisor of the EU Delegation Abu Syed Belal, General Manager of Bangladesh Bank's Sylhet regional office Jibon Krishna Roy, Prof Md Iqbal of the SUST's Industrial Production & Engineering department also spoke.
They pointed out that Sylhet has the opportunity to boost its industrial output with a target to increase exports to the neighbouring Indian states known as seven sisters.
Local businessmen Tehsin Chowdhury, Salehin F Nahian, Fahim Ahmed Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman Payel and Ziaur Rahman Litu also took part in discussion.
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