Seminar in April to attract Canadian investments

Bangladesh will organise an investment seminar in the Canadian capital of Ottawa early next month to help attract more foreign investment from the North American country, a trade official said.
Scholars, government officials, entrepreneurs and key policymakers are expected to address the seminar on 'Trade and Investment Opportunities in Bangladesh', to be held on April 1 and will focus on Bangladesh investment situation.
A total of five papers will be presented in the seminar, which will be held at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Bangladesh High Commission in Canada will organise the day-long seminar to introduce the Canadian investors as well as the new generation NRBs (Non-Resident Bangladeshis) with Bangladesh economy and investment climate.
Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) Dr Mostafa Abid Khan will present the key-note paper on the country's investment opportunities, tax, tariff and duty structures while Canadian parliamentarian Devinder Shory, also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT) of Canada, will present a paper on Role of Bangladeshi Canadians in Promotion of Trade and Investment.
Three other speakers - Director General of South, South-East Asia and Oceania, DFATD Peter MacArther, TFO Canada Executive Director Steve Timpan and Haggar Canada Co President Brian Mian-will also present papers on Canada-Bangladesh trade relations, Institutional supports for trade promotion between the two countries and Doing business in Bangladesh.
The panelists in the seminar will provide a perspective on current opportunities for trade and investment in Bangladesh and also illustrate the possibilities for expansion of the country's economic link with Canada.
Canada has provided over 4.0 billion Canadian dollars in aid since 1972. There has also been remarkable growth in trade, which has grown six-fold since 2004. At present, trade between the two countries stands at US$ 1.684 billion. Bangladesh exported goods worth about USD 1.099 billion to Canada in last fiscal (2013-14) while imports goods worth about USD 585.59 million from Canada.
Major export items from Bangladesh to Canada are woven and knit apparels, textile items, leather and other footwear and frozen foods.
On the other hand, major import items from Canada to Bangladesh include cereals and grains, food items, fertilisers, iron and steel and oil seeds.
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