Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Giving
assurance of special consideration, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on
Saturday invited the Vietnamese entrepreneurs to be a partner of
business activities in Bangladesh by increasing their trade and
investment for mutual benefits of the two countries."Immense opportunities are waiting for you all in Bangladesh. I, therefore, most cordially invite you to my country to increase your business with us and let us be partners in business activities and thus share gains and benefits, profits and prosperity in the near future," she told a business forum meeting here.
"I believe that your presence is also important for us to realise our "Sonar Bangla" or "Golden Bangladesh" as was envisioned by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of our Nation," she added.
Vietnam-Bangladesh Business Forum arranged the meeting followed by lunch at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) office.
Highlighting the bright prospects of business and investment in Bangladesh, the prime minister said the country has developed a vibrant business sector comprising of innovative entrepreneurs, efficient managers, and skilled workforce from a population where 60 percent is below the age of 40 years, laying a strong foundation of growth.
"But our bilateral trade, despite our combined market of 250 million people, does not do justice to our total potential. In South Asia, Bangladesh is the second largest importer of Vietnamese products after India," she said.
Hasina said many countries are availing Bangladesh's preferential status as an LDC and its skilled, affordable manpower to invest in producing exportable goods.
"Indeed, our duty free and quota free access of products to the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and other developed countries provides a competitive edge to investors," she said.
Hasina said her government has also adopted a public- private partnership to build infrastructures such as highways, monorail, railroads, power stations, a deep sea port and an international airport.
"In addition, we are establishing six special economic zones in different parts of the country with all facilities for FDI," she said.
To ensure uninterrupted supply of power, she said, the government is setting up new power stations, including nuclear power plants with foreign investments.
"By the end of 2013, we are determined to become self sufficient in energy," she said.
The prime minister said for the last four years, Bangladesh's GDP growth rate was around 6.5 percent with inflation below 5 percent, increase of per capita income by 34.6 percent, annual exports by 20 percent and inflow of remittance by 10 percent and abundant affordable workforce.
She mentioned the liberal investment policies taken by her government that include equal treatment for local and foreign investors, legal protection against nationalisation and expropriation, guarantee of repatriation of capital and dividend, corporate tax holidays from 5 to 7 years, concessionary duty on the import of machinery, export incentives, allowing 100 % equity, and unrestricted exit policy.
Hasina said Bangladesh with its market of 160 million stands between India's 1.2 billion and South Asia on one side, and Myanmar and South East Asia on the other.
"With the development of connectivity with roads, railways, waterways, and air with our neighbors, Bangladesh is destined to become a regional economic hub of bustling economic activity in the near future," she said.
Recalling Bangladesh's unwavering support to Vietnam's independence, the prime minister said she herself took part in the processions in Dhaka during her student life in favour of independence of Vietnam.
In this connection, she also mentioned that her eldest brother Sheikh Kamal, who was brutally killed on the fateful night of August 15 along with Bangabandhu, was included in a Bangladesh delegation led by incumbent President Zillur Rahman which visited Vietnam immediately after its independence.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Vietnamese Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) AK Azad, president of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)Dr Vu Tien Loc, Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Quang Thuc and Bangladesh Ambassador to Vietnam Supradip Chakma also spoke at the function.
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