BD's negative image needs to be 'replaced by positive one'
Friday, 5 November 2010
FE Report
The negative image of Bangladesh needs to be replaced by upholding more positive image to the world to boost the country's trade and business sector, said business leaders and experts at a city function.
The speakers observed that Bangladesh is more highlighted in the world media with its negative news despite there being a lot of positive things to project to the world community.
They also said the image crisis exists not only among the foreigners but also among the new generation non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).
In this backdrop of image crisis, Bangladesh Brand Forum (BBF), a private organisation engaged in promoting Bangladeshi brands, is set to organise a two-day exclusive event 'Meet Bangladesh - Asia's Next Big Opportunity' in the United Kingdom on November 26 and 27.
'The programme is designed to showcase and focus on the low volatility and consistent growth of Bangladesh in the past decade, despite having political instability and natural disasters," said Shariful Islam, founder of the BBF, at a press conference on the upcoming event held at a city hotel Thursday.
Managing Director of Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd Tapan Choudhury said this is for the first time that any private organisation has taken the positive image building initiative which is normally done by the government.
"This is a huge opportunity under public private partnership to build our national image by showcasing the real players of the country's economy outside Bangladesh as investors always want to interact with the real players," said Tapan, also a former adviser to the caretaker government.
He said successful entrepreneurs and people from other sectors have duties to motivate foreigners and the NRBs by telling their success stories through more direct interaction.
"There are many NRB second generation people who even do not know about Bangladesh properly except for the country of flood, beggar, hartal and cyclone where their parents may want to come back to contribute to its economy," he said, adding, the country must stop brain drain through creating proper opportunity for the talented young generation who will lead the country.
The event, which is scheduled to be held in Queen Elizabeth II Convention Centre, will project true business and other potentials of Bangladesh thereby improving its global image by bringing British and Bangladeshi business leaders and investors and five world renowned media - Financial Times, Guardian, Economist, Times and Telegraph - under one roof.
Chief Operating Officer of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Rabbu Reza said the positive image of Bangladesh is necessary not only for attracting foreign direct investment but also for exporting Bangladeshi products to other countries.
He said the BBF programme is a collective effort to promote Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, encouraged by the resilience and innovativeness of their predecessors, have been able to achieve a competitive edge in sectors such as garments and pharmaceuticals, he said.
Bangladesh as a country has to be branded to enable local businesses to take their products to the global stage, said BBF Chief Adviser Ferhat Anwar.
Animesh Kundu, MD, Otobi Ltd, Humayun Rashid, CEO, Energypac Ltd, Mahboob Zaman, BASIS President, artist Nazia Andaleeb Preema, advisor, BBF, Ifty Islam, managing partner, AT Capital and Zafar Sobhan, media consultant of London conference, were also present on the occasion.
Apart from the private sector participants, those who are expected to attend the conference from the government are Dr Tawfique-e-Elahi, energy advisor to the Prime Minister, Professor Gowher Rizvi, advisor and special representative of the PM, Mashiur Rahman, economic affairs advisor to the PM and GM Quader, civil aviation and tourism minister, and Shafique Alam Mehdi, secretary of the ministry.
The negative image of Bangladesh needs to be replaced by upholding more positive image to the world to boost the country's trade and business sector, said business leaders and experts at a city function.
The speakers observed that Bangladesh is more highlighted in the world media with its negative news despite there being a lot of positive things to project to the world community.
They also said the image crisis exists not only among the foreigners but also among the new generation non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).
In this backdrop of image crisis, Bangladesh Brand Forum (BBF), a private organisation engaged in promoting Bangladeshi brands, is set to organise a two-day exclusive event 'Meet Bangladesh - Asia's Next Big Opportunity' in the United Kingdom on November 26 and 27.
'The programme is designed to showcase and focus on the low volatility and consistent growth of Bangladesh in the past decade, despite having political instability and natural disasters," said Shariful Islam, founder of the BBF, at a press conference on the upcoming event held at a city hotel Thursday.
Managing Director of Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd Tapan Choudhury said this is for the first time that any private organisation has taken the positive image building initiative which is normally done by the government.
"This is a huge opportunity under public private partnership to build our national image by showcasing the real players of the country's economy outside Bangladesh as investors always want to interact with the real players," said Tapan, also a former adviser to the caretaker government.
He said successful entrepreneurs and people from other sectors have duties to motivate foreigners and the NRBs by telling their success stories through more direct interaction.
"There are many NRB second generation people who even do not know about Bangladesh properly except for the country of flood, beggar, hartal and cyclone where their parents may want to come back to contribute to its economy," he said, adding, the country must stop brain drain through creating proper opportunity for the talented young generation who will lead the country.
The event, which is scheduled to be held in Queen Elizabeth II Convention Centre, will project true business and other potentials of Bangladesh thereby improving its global image by bringing British and Bangladeshi business leaders and investors and five world renowned media - Financial Times, Guardian, Economist, Times and Telegraph - under one roof.
Chief Operating Officer of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Rabbu Reza said the positive image of Bangladesh is necessary not only for attracting foreign direct investment but also for exporting Bangladeshi products to other countries.
He said the BBF programme is a collective effort to promote Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, encouraged by the resilience and innovativeness of their predecessors, have been able to achieve a competitive edge in sectors such as garments and pharmaceuticals, he said.
Bangladesh as a country has to be branded to enable local businesses to take their products to the global stage, said BBF Chief Adviser Ferhat Anwar.
Animesh Kundu, MD, Otobi Ltd, Humayun Rashid, CEO, Energypac Ltd, Mahboob Zaman, BASIS President, artist Nazia Andaleeb Preema, advisor, BBF, Ifty Islam, managing partner, AT Capital and Zafar Sobhan, media consultant of London conference, were also present on the occasion.
Apart from the private sector participants, those who are expected to attend the conference from the government are Dr Tawfique-e-Elahi, energy advisor to the Prime Minister, Professor Gowher Rizvi, advisor and special representative of the PM, Mashiur Rahman, economic affairs advisor to the PM and GM Quader, civil aviation and tourism minister, and Shafique Alam Mehdi, secretary of the ministry.