German investors stress \\\'pro-active\\\' measures to entice foreign investors

Raihan M Chowdhury | Published: May 24, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

German investment will see 'remarkable growth' if Bangladesh steps up its promotional campaign abroad, a visiting German business delegation said Friday.
"You've a growing economy. What you need is pro-active steps and global media campaigns to highlight your successes, which can help attract foreign businesses including German," Peter Clasen, chairman of the German business delegation, told The Financial Express in an interview.
The European business team under the banner of OAV (German Asia-Pacific Business Association) is now in Bangladesh in a fact-finding mission to explore the business opportunities between the two countries.
The OAV works on the promotion of bilateral economic relationships between Germany and the Asia-Pacific region. Through its corporate and institutional network, the OAV supports German companies with their activities in the Asia-Pacific Region.
"Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have unique resilience to overcome any crisis within a very short time and this unique ethos should be highlighted to the foreign investors in a proper way," Mr Peter Clasen commented indicating the poor efforts of Bangladesh government in this regard.
According to Mr Clasen, overcoming the Rana Plaza crisis and finalisation of Padma Bridge construction project are big successes of the Bangladesh government.
"But such success stories of Bangladesh are not widely covered in international media and I think such failures are keeping a large number of foreign investors at bay," Mr Clasen, also chairmen of GerBan Fibres Ltd and Wilhelm G Clasen (Bangladesh Ltd) regretted.
 Giving a very recent example of Bangladesh government's efforts to grab the export market, the senior German entrepreneur said the opportunity created by the recent ban on export of Indian mangoes by the European Union should not be missed.
An EU-wide ban on mangoes from India came into force recently, halting imports into the UK potentially until December 2015.
The ban also includes aubergines, two types of squash, and a type of leaf used in Indian cooking.
Shipments of Indian mangoes were suspended into Europe after consignments were found to be infested with fruit flies.
The German investors also put thrust on generating adequate power and energy, improving infrastructure, roads and highways and governance to attract more foreign investment in Bangladesh.
Timo Prekop, executive member of OAV said since its foundation in 1900, the OAV has been working as a strong network of German companies with activities in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The OAV is a privately held non-profit organisation financed by its corporate members. They include the most renowned companies from major industries and the banking sector, trading companies and a great number of small and medium-sized enterprises from all industries located all over Germany.
High-ranking representatives of German business are active in the OAV board.
During the visit, the German business team met high officials of Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Export Promotion Bureau and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka.