City Reporter: Newly appointed Ambassador of Vietnam to Bangladesh Nguyen Man Cuong along with a trade delegation held an exchange meeting with leaders of The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall at the World Trade Center this Sunday (November 26) afternoon. Chittagong Chamber President Omar Hajjaz presided over it.
The sincere and economic cooperation between the two countries continues, which has been deepened and strengthened through bilateral understanding and trust in the past few years, Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Man Cuong said, “Despite the disruption of global economic activities due to the Corona epidemic in the past two years, the trade relations of the two countries have remained stable.” was stable. Bangladesh is Vietnam’s second largest trading partner after India in South Asia.
He said, from January to October this year, trade between the two countries was worth 883 million dollars, of which 90% was exported to Vietnam. Although Bangladesh’s exports amount to 108 million dollars, it is two and a half times more than last year. He requested the Chittagong Chamber to continue its cooperation to achieve the trade target of two billion dollars between the two countries and reduce the existing trade deficit. He also expressed hope that the Chittagong Chamber could facilitate the cooperation and investment attraction of Vietnamese businessmen in Chittagong through coordination with the relevant authorities. He assured to work with concerned authorities including Chittagong Chamber to create favorable environment for businessmen of both countries.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is developing various infrastructures in the region to make greater Chittagong an international hub for business, investment and logistics, said Chittagong Chamber President Omar Hajjaz.
He said, called for joint investment in non-leather sports footwear and motorcycle manufacturing sector along with leather products. Besides, he commented that Vietnam can jointly invest in the potential blue-economy sector and the production of agricultural products based on the coastal and hilly areas of Chittagong. He emphasized on exchange of trade delegations to identify potential sectors of both countries and discuss them, establish communication between the chambers of the two countries, launch visa on arrival for Bangladeshis and direct flights.
In view of the statement of the businessmen of Omar Hajjaz delegation, they requested to inform the Chamber about all the obstacles they face in conducting business in Bangladesh, especially in Chittagong, and assured to take necessary initiatives to remove them subject to discussion with the appropriate authorities. He hoped to set up an “Investment Library” in the Chittagong Chamber for investors to attract and accelerate foreign investment in Chittagong.
The members of the business delegation pointed out that Vietnam is technologically rich in the production sector and emphasized on increasing communication and information exchange between the businessmen of the two countries. Besides, he requested the initiative of Chittagong Chamber for the overall cooperation of Vietnamese businessmen in conducting business in Bangladesh.
The directors of the chamber sought investment from Vietnam in various potential sectors including technical and educational sectors, emphasized on the participation of businessmen in various expos held in both countries, product introduction and relationship development, and direct shipping between the two countries. Invite Vietnamese businessmen to participate in the international trade fair organized by the Chittagong Chamber with a separate zone.
Anjan Shekhar Das, Mahfuzul Haque Shah, Mohammad Monir Uddin, former director of the Chamber S. were present. M. Abu Taib, Director of Bangladesh-Vietnam Chamber Anik Rashed Khan and members of the delegation spoke. At that time, among others, directors Zahirul Islam Chowdhury (Alamgir), Benazir Chowdhury Nishan, Mahbubul Haque Miah, Mohammad Adnanul Islam, Omar Muktadir, Bangladesh-Vietnam Chamber Director Md. Abdus Sobahan, Embassy and Chamber officials.
