Praising Bangladesh’s phenomenal socio-economic progress in last few years, 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, reports BSS. At a seminar in International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada speakers praised the opportunities of foreign trade and investment in Bangladesh. High Commission for Bangladesh in Canada organised the seminar on Bangladesh: Trade and Investment Opportunities’ recently, according to a release received here. 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. First Secretary (Commerce) Dewan Mahmud conducted the seminar, while Counsellor Ishrat Ahmed gave vote of thanks. A large number of representatives from Canadian Government, business community, private sectors, academics, scholars, civil society, NGOs as well as the members of Bangladesh community in Canada attended the seminar. Seven panelists, representing the Canadian Government and Parliament of Canada as well as Canadian corporate sectors and an expert from Bangladesh made their presentations on various aspects of economic miracles that have happened in Bangladesh in the recent time as well as the package of investment opportunities that the country has been offering. Brian Main, President of Haggar, a Canada Company, presented on the experience of doing business in Bangladesh, and applauded Bangladesh’s competitiveness as world’s second largest exporter of apparels.
