Hanoi to ease business visas for Dhaka

Visiting Vietnamese Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong Monday said his country will ease the visa process for Bangladeshi businesspeople to strengthen bilateral trade and investment.

"Bilateral trade between the two countries is now modest and direct Dhaka-Hanoi air link and simplification of visa processing can increase the interaction," he said while speaking at a meeting with the country's businesspeople.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the meeting with the visiting trade delegation of Vietnam at the apex trade body's office in city to explore trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

Mr Hoang Quoc Vuong led a seven-member delegation at the meeting.

Ambassador of Vietnam to Dhaka Nguyen Quang Thuc, deputy director general of Southwest Asia and Africa division, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, Do Huu Huy, FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, first vice president Monowara Hakim Ali and vice president M Helal Uddin were also present at the meeting.

Hoang Quoc Vuong said, "Easing all-level cooperation between the businessmen of the two countries will have to be proactive and pursue the development goal."

His visit to Bangladesh will strengthen the friendship and understanding between the two countries, he added.

FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed called for 100 per cent duty-free quota-free access of all Bangladeshi export products to Vietnam.

He said Bangladesh and Vietnam are both in the next 11 countries which have the high potential to become the world's largest economies in the 21st century.

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