'China now largest FDI source of BD'

China has become the largest FDI (foreign direct investment) source country of Bangladesh in terms of the gross flow of $940 million for fiscal year 2022.
It has also ranked top in foreign investors with 104 investors at eight export-processing zones (EPZs), said Song Yang, economic and commercial counsellor of Chinese Embassy, on Saturday.
He was addressing the 'Forum on China-Bangladesh Human Resources Development Cooperation and Reunion of Participants of Chinese Government  Training Programmes' hosted by the embassy at a city hotel.
"China has been the largest trading partner of Bangladesh for the past 12 consecutive years," he said.
The trade volume between the two countries increased by 58 per cent last year showing strong resilience of bilateral trade during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The training was organised in cooperation of the country's Commerce Ministry, Academy for International Business Officials, and Yunnan International Centre for Economic and Technical Exchanges.
Seventy-three participants from government agencies, enterprises and public institutions have joined the foreign aid training program online since 2020.
The course focused on areas, including medical technology, services, engineering project management, economic management, public safety, epidemic prevention and controls.
Additional secretary Mohammad Shahriar Kader Siddiky, who is the wing chief of Economic Relations Division, attended the event as the chief guest.
Li Xiao, director, Yunnan Commercial Representative Office in Bangladesh, and eight representatives of the trainees spoke at the event.
Mr Yang referred to his country's contribution to development work and human resources development in various sectors.
He said Chinese companies in EPZs have created employment for 129,000 people while companies outside the EPZ and Chinese building contractors continue to hiring more and more local workers.
The counsellor further said that skills of various professionals have also been increased due to work experience with Chinese companies here and overseas.
"During the past decades, we have sowed the seeds of mutual benefit, nurtured shared growth through comprehensive collaboration and discussion. We are now entering a harvest season," he added.
According to the Chinese embassy, more than 3,600 officials and technical staffers have attended the Chinese government's seminars and training courses since 2013, mostly offline before 2020.
Eight participants from online and offline courses shared their experiences and scope for utilising knowledge in the sectors like oceanology, revenue earnings, health, disaster management, and energy and mineral resources.
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