FAISALABAD: Bangladesh will start offering one-year multiple visa to businessmen very soon in order to give a boost to business ties with Pakistan, says the ambassador of Bangladesh.
Speaking at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) on Tuesday, Suhrab Hossain said businessmen would not be required to personally appear for the visa and only a recommendation letter of the FCCI for the applicants would suffice.
Highlighting the potential for joint ventures and investment in the manufacturing industry and agriculture in Bangladesh, he said government’s policies were very conducive along with cheap labour, uninterrupted electricity and gas supply, a flood of incentives and preferential treatment to foreign investors.
Elaborating, the ambassador said import duty on raw material was very low, foreign investors got five-year tax holiday and industrial and agricultural sectors received much more importance from the government as Bangladesh economy was growing.
He pointed out that Pakistan was historically strong in textile manufacturing and Bangladesh was also gaining strength in readymade garments with special edge coming from the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme.
He told businessmen that Bangladesh embassy was ready to lend every support for setting up and relocating industries to Bangladesh.
He highlighted other potential areas for investment and joint ventures, which included electrical appliances, information technology, sports goods, pharmaceutical products and ceramics.
Responding to a proposal, Hossain agreed that single-country exhibitions could be planned in Faisalabad, Lahore and Karachi for increasing bilateral trade and economic activities between the two countries.
The ambassador pointed out that the Bangladesh government had focused attention on providing education, particularly to women, and was also planning population control.
In response to another proposal, he said he would try his best to ensure that the Bangladesh cricket team visit Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2012.
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Bangladeshi's look down upon Indians and Pakistanis everywhere now day, one Bengali fella said to me that Bengalis learnt their lesson and will never trust other South Asians for life.
On one hand the Bangladeshi government hates us, and want Pakistan to appologize to them. On the other hand they are stealing whatever little industry Pakistan has. They have already taken away Pakistan's Textile exports, now they want the other industries i.e. Sports products, leather, electrical home appliances to relocate to Bangladesh. Two thumbs up to Bangladeshis for their very clever move, and snubbing down Pakistan.
Bangladesh's recent success in Textile industry has alot to do with Pakistani Textile manufacturers relocating to Bangladesh. It is part of our own government's failures to provide steady electricity. Now if you shop in any mall in USA, you will find more than 50% ready made clothes made in Bangladesh, thanks in large part to Pakistani Businessmen in Bangladesh. During 1990s, you could easily find Made in Pakistan Ready made garments, comprising 25% to 30% of clothes, towels, bed linen, etc. Now you will be lucky to find even 1% Made in Pakistan label. Bangladesh is now second largest Textile exporter to USA after China which is first.
did they ask for formal apologies for 1971? in jehangir treens word, "policy is bad, dollars are good."
I'm sure if Pak ambassador in Dhaka asked Bengali businessmen to relocate industry to pakistan, they would spit on his face even if there was extra money to be made.