Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Monday invited more investments from Italy, saying that Bangladesh offers an investment-friendly environment and the existing Italian investors have been in very successful here with all necessary support from the government. He also stressed the need for reducing duty, knowledge sharing and supports from Italy to export more RMG, medicine, electronic and leather products to expand bilateral trade between the two countries. “Bangladesh now offers more investment-friendly environment,which will benefit the investors from Italy. The existing Italian investors have been in successful in Bangladesh and we will continue to provide all the support the Italian investors might need,” Tofail said while addressing a seminar styled “Bangladesh Business Forum” as part of the ‘Milan Expo-2015’ in the Italian city.
The Milan Chamber of Commerce and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh jointly arranged the function. Member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Agriculture and Handicraft Amato Luigi Molinari attended the seminar as chief guest. Businessmen from apparel, pharmaceutical, handicraft, agriculture, weaving, food and plastic sector, government representatives and chamber leaders from both the countries addressed the seminar. The Bangladeshi delegates highlighted the success stories of Italian investors in Bangladesh. While addressing the seminar, Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Md Shahadat Hossain highlighted the investment climate, facilities and availability of cheap labour in Bangladesh to attract more Italian investment in Bangladesh. Export promotion Bureau (EPB) Chairman Shubhashish Bose and Member of the Board of Proms and Offer for International Trade of Italy Cheara Fanali presented the keynote in the seminar. BKMEA First Vice President Md Hatem, Executive Director of Bio Pharma Ltd Dr. Mahmudul Huq, BRI representative Md. Abul Kashem, owner of Brother Plastic Ratan Kumar Agarwal also addressed the seminar. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between EPB and Milan Chambers of Commerce was also singed during the seminar.
