Qatar keen on FTA with BD: Salman

Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman MP has said Qatar is interested in signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh.

He spoke of Qatar's interest in the FTA while talking to journalists after a meeting between the business delegations of Bangladesh and Qatar at a hotel in the capital on Monday evening.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday, the Bangladesh delegation was led by Salman F Rahman while the Qatari team was led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, the Arab country's Minister for Industry and Commerce.

Salman F Rahman said the Qatari minister expressed interest in the FTA when the proposal was placed in the meeting.

"They have shown great interest in this proposal. They said they have an FTA with many countries of the world. Recently, they signed an FTA with South Korea and are in the final stages of signing such a deal with Pakistan," Mr Rahman said.

Noting that the Qatari side also expressed their interest in talks with Bangladesh on commodity exchange and Sukuk investment, the Prime Minister's adviser said the meeting decided to work for the development of the private sectors of both the countries.

He said Qatar imports food products from many countries and Bangladesh wants to export its various food products, including meat, to that country,

"The governments of the two countries will work for the development of business and trade in these areas by creating a favourable environment," he added.

The press release also says Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Mahbubul Alam expressed interest in visiting Qatar with a delegation to improve relations between the businessmen of the two countries and the president of the Qatar Chamber welcomed the proposal.

The meeting was also attended by State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu and several senior government officials.

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