Own Correspondent: The business networking meeting of The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the 32-member trade delegation from Vietnam was held at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall at the World Trade Center on Wednesday (October 26) afternoon. Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Pham Viet Chien led the delegation.
Under the chairmanship of Chamber President Mahbubul Alam, the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Vietnam, Du Kiok Hung, spoke at the networking meeting. President of Bangladesh-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BVCCI) M. Rahman, former senior vice-president of the chamber Omar Hajjaz, director Anjan Shekhar Das, former director S. M. Abu Taib and Mahfuzul Haque Shah and Additional Customs Commissioner Dr. Abu Noor Rashed Ahmed. At this time, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Chittagong Chamber and the International Investment Promotion Alliance of Vietnam.
Ambassador Pham Viet Chien said Chittagong is a potential place for Vietnamese businessmen to invest in Bangladesh. Bilateral trade has crossed $1.1 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. He expressed hope that it will increase in the coming days. The ambassador expressed optimism that the trade of 2 billion dollars expected by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina between the two countries in 2021 has not been fulfilled due to the Covid epidemic, but it will be achieved in the coming days.
Chamber president Mahbubul Alam said Bangladesh has a huge trade deficit with Vietnam. Businessmen of both countries can eliminate this deficit through investment. He called upon Vietnamese businessmen to invest using Chittagong’s geographical and commercial advantages. He also invited Vietnamese businessmen to participate in Chittagong International Trade Fair 2023 organized by Chittagong Chamber.
He also said that Vietnam has no direct air connection with Bangladesh. It is hoped that Dhaka-Hanoi direct flight will start by next December. As a result, the business and relations between the two countries will speed up.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade Deputy Director General Du Kyok Hung said, there is still a lack of information between entrepreneurs in Bangladesh and Vietnam. He emphasized on sending bilateral trade delegation to improve this situation. Besides, by investing in various sectors including garments, textiles, pharmaceuticals, businessmen of both countries can strengthen commercial relations. Next year, Vietnam will complete 50 years of diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. Keeping this relationship in front, he invited the trade delegation of Bangladesh to Vietnam next year.
BVCCI President S. M. Rahman said, there is an opportunity to export seafood, leather and pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh to Vietnam. Besides, he expressed the opinion that Bangladesh can increase productivity through technical assistance from Vietnam, which is rich in agriculture.
Other speakers welcomed the Vietnamese trade delegation and commended their efforts in promoting bilateral relations and emphasized on establishing close ties between businessmen of the two countries.
At this time, the directors of the chamber were present among others. Ahid Siraj Chowdhury (Swapan), Zahirul Islam Chowdhury (Alamgir) and Md. Iftekhar Faisal, Honorary Consul of South Africa. Solaiman Alam Seth, former director of the chamber Kamal Mostafa Chowdhury and director of Clifton Group. M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury, managing director of marginal group, engineer Md. Golam Sarwar, Attaché and Ambassador PS Nguyen Viet Anh, business leaders from various sectors including BGMEA, BKMEA, BGAPMEA, Women Chamber, Agro Sector, Furniture Manufacturers, Importers of Consumer Goods, Electrical Appliances, Importers were present.
Later, BTOB sessions were held among the businessmen and delegation members present.
