DCCI invites Indian businesses to invest in economic zones

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has called on the Indian entrepreneurs to invest in the economic zones (EZs) in Bangladesh.
A business delegation of the DCCI, now visiting Kolkata, made the call at an 'Industry Interactive Meet' with the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce at a hotel in Kolkata on Wednesday, says a statement.
The 47-member delegation led by DCCI President Rizwan Rahman is visiting the Indian state of West Bengal to explore new business potentials.
Calcutta Chamber of Commerce President Shailja Mehta, DCCI President Rizwan Rahman, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Kolkata Andalib Elias, among others, spoke at the interactive meet.
Mentioning Bangladesh the biggest trade partner of India in South Asia, Shailja Mehta said both the nations need to diversify trade with active industry participation in order to achieve advantageous trade figures.
She said better market access, improved physical connectivity and transit and energy trade between India and Bangladesh are important instruments for unlocking bilateral trade potential.
She also termed tourism as one of the important areas where there are huge potential to tap into.
DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India hovers within US $9.87 billion having a potential of $16.4 billion forecast by the World Bank (WB).
He invited Indian entrepreneurs to invest in the EZs in Bangladesh that are already completed for operation.
Pharmaceuticals, footwear, energy, food processing, light engineering, ICT are some of the areas where Indian investors can tap the opportunities, he noted.
Moreover, initiative of signing comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between India and Bangladesh will usher a win-win situation for both end businesses, he added.
He also sought joint collaboration on different non-tariff issues which hinders the business scopes.
Deputy High Commissioner Andalib Elias said Bangladesh has a trade deficit with India but it is decreasing day by day.
During the last five to six years, bilateral trade between the two countries has multiplied about 2.5 times, he noted.
Terming trade facilitation a big issue, he said the High Commission is working with the government and the private sector here in Kolkata to enhance it further.
Later, an interactive B2B match-making was organised where members of DCCI business delegation and the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce took part.

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