Belgium trade team visits BD in Dec to explore investment potential

Our Correspondent | Published: October 22, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: October 21, 2014 21:19:38

CHITTAGONG, Oct 21: A trade delegation comprising representatives from five to six major industrial conglomerates of Belgium is likely to visit Bangladesh by the first week of December and tentatively on December 3 in Chittagong.
First Secretary for Trade and Investment of Belgium Embassy in New Delhi Christophe Van Overstraeten said this while visited Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry today.
The Belgium First Secretary said there is opportunity for investment by the businesses of his country and so a trade delegation from Belgium will be visiting Chittagong soon to explore investment potential.
The businesses will be looking for investment in the gas sector, transportation, steel, recycling and water treatment, Mr Christophe hinted at the reception accorded to him by the CMCCI.
They will also hold bilateral talks on trade, business and investment facilities with the senior officials of the government and leaders of the premier trade bodies of Bangladesh.
Explaining his maiden visit to the port city of Chittagong, he said it is linked with proposed visit of the high-profile business delegation to Chittagong scheduled for early December this year.
The Belgium First Secretary stated the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Belgium is definitely in favour of Bangladesh, as his country imports much of its textile and garments from Bangladesh.
Responding to a question, he said the visa policy throughout the European Union (EU) is uniform. So Belgium as a member of the EU cannot make any separate visa policy for any country bypassing the EU rules.
He, however, said that the visa rules always favour business people of any country and Bangladeshi businesses willing to visit Belgium do not find any problem in getting visa. "Our visa policy is business-friendly," he said.
Vice President of the CMCCI AM Mahbub Chowdhury welcomed the Belgium First Secretary in the port city and said there is excellent relation between the two countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of CMCCI MA Awal said Bangladesh needs vast investment and the government has framed investment-friendly policies. The Belgium businesses will find a suitable atmosphere to invest in Bangladesh.
Director of CMCCI M Amin-Uz-Zaman Bhuiyan said Belgium imports a handy volume of textile and garments from Bangladesh but they can import much more at competitive prices.
Director of CMCCI WRI Mahmud Russel said the Belgium businesses are eager to invest in different sectors in Bangladesh and the businesses in Chittagong are looking forward to the visit.
Professor Jahangir Chowdhury, director of the CMCCI, also spoke on the occasion.

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