International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) has been playing a vital role for the development of trade and commerce of the country. Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce made the remark after inaugurating the new office of the IBFB at Tejgaon in the city on Tuesday. Appreciating the business community’s contribution, he said, entrepreneurs are keeping country’s economic wheel rolling on, which he mentioned is very important to achieve the national objective of transforming Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041. David Meale, Chargé d’affaires, US Embassy to Bangladesh, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, President, FBCCI and Elizabeth Gourlay, Consul General, US Embassy to Bangladesh spoke as special guests. David Meale said, in this span of time, the IBFB has developed a lot and established itself as a premier non-partisan business organisation in Bangladesh. He appreciated IBFB’s ongoing advocacy effort on overseas investment by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs. Abdul Matlub Ahmad invited the IBFB to team up with the FBCCI in carrying out research and advocacy on different issues for the betterment of business and economy. In his opening remarks, IBFB President Hafizur Rahman Khan mentioned the journey and some remarkable achievements of the IBFB. He said, the IBFB now has 435 members including 12 life members. The first chapter office of the IBFB was launched in Chittagong in 2012 and more chapter offices will gradually be opened in major economically important cities around the country and abroad. US Consul General Elizabeth Gourlay recalled that in order to reduce visa processing time and hassles for IBFB members, the US Embassy Consular Section partnered with the IBFB and introduced Business Visa programme. Among others, Suhel Ahmed Chowdhury, former commerce
