Businessmen of both Bangladesh and Pakistan have emphasised the need for taking joint initiatives to tap into unexplored and new potentials to boost bilateral trade and investment.
The business leaders of both the countries expressed their eagerness to take joint initiatives in various prospective sectors at the 鈥楤angladesh-Pakistan Business Forum鈥� held on Monday, said a FBCCI press release.
The forum was held between the delegation of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry with FBCCI administrator Md Hafizur Rahman in the chair.
In his welcome address, the FBCCI administrator said that although there had been a continuous growth in trade and commerce between Bangladesh and Pakistan over the years, but many potential sectors including agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, ICT, remained unexplored.
鈥業t鈥檚 possible to increase trade and commerce between the two countries manifold through taking joint initiatives,鈥� he observed.
Md Hafizur Rahman put emphasis on utilising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to strengthen Bangladesh-Pakistan trade relations.
The FBCCI administrator said that there was ample scope for the two countries to work closely in sectors such as energy, education, technology, human resources development, research and innovation to meet the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.
He opined that the FBCCI and FPCCI could jointly take initiative to organise various workshops, seminars, B2B meetings and 鈥楽ingle Country Trade Fair鈥� to this end.
Speaking on the occasion, Atif Ikram Sheikh, president of the FPCCI, said that there was a huge trade potential between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
鈥楾here is an ample scope for the two countries to work together, especially in the agriculture, pharmaceuticals, leather, machinery, chemicals and ICT sectors. In this regard, the facilities of regional connectivity can be utilised,鈥� he added.
Citing that there are few challenges in trade between the two countries, Atif emphasised the need for development of infrastructures, ports, and logistics capacity.
Shakib Fayaz Magun, senior vice-president of FPCCI, commented that it was possible to bring about a great change in the economy by working together in the agriculture sector and exchanging technological knowledge between the two countries.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the FBCCI and FPCCI in the meeting to form a Joint Business Council to strengthen trade between the two countries.
Pakistan deputy high commissioner in Dhaka Mohammad Wasif, additional secretary (commerce wing) of the Ministry of Commerce Nazneen Kawsar Chowdhury, former FBCCI director Giasuddin Chowdhury (Khokon), FBCCI secretary general Md Alamgir, former FBCCI directors and other business leaders, and members of the FPCCI business delegation attended the meeting, among others.