Set up Sylhet SEZ to channel more foreign investment

A United Kingdom-based non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) business delegation asked the government Tuesday for rapid set up of the proposed special economic zone (SEZ) in Sylhet to facilitate more foreign investment in the country.
 "As a large number of Sylhet-based businesses live in the UK, it will be a good step to establish the SEZ in the area," said chairman of UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry Ltd (UKBCCI) Iqbal Ahmed OBE.
He said this during a meeting with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) officials at its auditorium in the city. A 10-member delegation of UKBCCI joined the meeting.  
The team has arrived in the country for a week-long visit. It will meet the government high officials and business leaders.
Mr Ahmed also advised the government to release fund for promoting Bangladeshi brands in the readymade garment (RMG) industry.
"Though the country's RMG business is expanding rapidly, our own branding is still a far cry due to lack of initiatives and promotional activities."
The UKBCCI chairman said they want to make a bridge between the UK and Bangladesh to exchange quality manpower for top level jobs.
"We have highly educated manpower in the UK and Bangladesh. But, the top positions of our business houses in both the countries are occupied by foreigners. So, we can take a step to exchange manpower," Mr Ahmed added.
FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed assured the UK business delegation of placing their demands to the government, and expressed his commitment to work jointly.
He said it is a very good sign that the NRBs are showing their interest to come here with big investment, and it is the result of issuing license to three NRB banks recently.
"The government has opened the door for the NRB businesses to invest here by giving license to three banks. We hope a big investment will come within a very short time," the FBCCI president said.
UKBCCI President Bajloor Rashid MBE said about 0.6 million Bangladeshis live in the UK, who have about £5 billion business there. The Bangladeshis run about 12,000 restaurants in the UK.
"Presently, we are involved in all kinds of entrepreneurship in the UK," he said.
FBCCI vice president Monowara Hakim Ali requested the UK delegates to come with specific agenda and maintain affiliation with the FBCCI to expedite their joint work.
"We have big opportunities to work together," she said, urging them to arrange a business fair in the UK to attract the investors.
UKBCCI senior vice president M A Rouf, vice president Abdul Malik and director Rohema Mia, vice president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Kh Shahidul Islam, and FBCCI directors Obaidur Rahman and Salah Uddin Ali Ahmed also addressed the function.
UKBCCI officials - Nazmul Islam Nuru, Jamal Uddin, Anawar Babul Miah and S I Azad Ali - were present at the programme, among others.  
Besides the meeting with the FBCCI officials, the delegation Tuesday also met Foreign Minister A H Mahmud Ali MP, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid MP, secretaries of finance and commerce ministries, and officials of British Council.