Time for BD freelancers to grab Canadian market

The Russia-Ukraine war has created the opportunity for Bangladesh to grab the Canadian outsourcing market.
Speakers made the observation during a virtual meeting organised by the Canada-Bangladesh Joint Working Group on Tuesday night.
They said that most of the Canadian companies used to hire freelancers from India, Russia and Ukraine for web development, social media management, digital content production and other Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES).
Now the Russia-Ukraine war opens the door for Bangladeshi freelancers to enter the Canadian market, they added.
Nuzhat Tam Zaman, Canadian side co-chair of the Canada-Bangladesh Joint Working Group, suggested strengthening commercial relations with Canada.
Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), told the meeting that more than 0.6 million skilled Bangladesh freelancers were working in the global outsourcing market.
Mr Uddin, also Bangladeshi side co-chair of the joint working group, urged the Canadian companies to invest in waste management and waste-to-power projects.
He also called upon the Canadian investors to set up factories and produce solar panels in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, both sides put emphasis on trade missions for boosting bilateral trade and investment.
Thomas Timmins from Canada delivered a presentation on renewable energy while Dr E H Arefin Ahmed from Bangladesh made his presentation on the pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Shamim Ahmed, Canada Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Masud Rahman, Saskatchen Trade and Export Partnership President C. Dekker, Additional Commerce Secretary Md Abdur Rahim Khan, Trade Commissioner of Canadian High Commission, Dhaka Qazi Golam Farhad, and FBCCI Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque were present, among others.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com