Praising Bangladesh’s phenomenal socio-economic progress in the last few years, a Canadian Foreign official said Bangladesh would be the world’s 23rd largest economy by 2050. Director general of South, Southeast Asia and Oceania Division of the department of foreign affairs Peter MacArthur highlighted Bangladesh’s near two billion dollar bilateral trade with Canada. At a seminar in International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada speakers praised the opportunities Bangladesh offers in the field of foreign trade and investment. High Commission for Bangladesh in Canada organised the seminar on “Bangladesh: Trade and Investment Opportunities” recently, according to a release received in Dhaka. Chaired by Kamrul Ahsan, high commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Brian Main, president of Haggar Canada company, Steve Tipman, executive director, Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) of Canada, Devinder Shory, Canadian member of parliament from the ruling Conservative Party and a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on International Trade, Dr Mostafa Abid Khan, acting CEO of Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institution (BFTI), and Alain Brandon, senior director of Loblaws Company, Canada’s largest retailer. Brian Main, president of Haggar, a Canadian company, said on the experience of doing business in Bangladesh, and applauded Bangladesh’s competitiveness as world’s second largest exporter of apparels. He shared his very positive experience in this regard stating that ‘quality’ is the key component of Bangladesh’s manufacturing of ready-made garments. Steve Tipman, executive director, Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) of Canada, spoke on the institutional support for the promotion of trade between Canada and Bangladesh. Devinder Shory, Canadian member of parliament from the ruling Conservative Party and a member of the parliamentary standing committee on international trade presented on the role of Bangladeshi Canadians in the promotion of trade between the two countries, and focused on Canadian government’s ‘Go Global’ policy. Dr Mostafa Abid Khan, acting CEO of Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institution (BFTI) spoke on investment opportunities in Bangladesh including tax structure and customs duty and Bangladesh government’s various initiatives to promote foreign direct investment. He elaborated on why Bangladesh is the second easiest place for doing business in South Asia. Alain Brandon, senior director of Loblaws company, Canada’s largest retailer, spoke on sourcing from Bangladesh. He reiterated his company’s commitment for increased trade with Bangladesh.
