Khosru seeks duty-free access to South Korea
Four-day ROK product exposition opens
Star Business Report
Inaugurating a four-day exposition of South Korean products, Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday urged the Southeast Asian country to give Bangladeshi products duty-free access to the Korean market."We need duty-free entry for our products to reduce the huge trade gap between the two countries," he said calling upon the Koreans to invest more in Bangladesh taking the advantage of incentives offered by the government to foreign investors. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh imported products worth $350 million from South Korea while its exports to the industrilised Southeast Asian country amounted to only $18.86 million in 2001-02. Speaking at the function, Kyu-Hyung Lee, ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Dhaka, said Korean investment in Bangladesh particularly in export processing zones is the highest. "This investment helps the country boost its export." He hoped that the trade show would promote mutual trade and further strengthen the relationship between the businessmen of the two countries. Taewon Hong, resident trade representative of Korea Trade Centre, Dhaka, also spoke at the inaugural function held at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. After inauguration, the commerce minister went round different stalls at the fair organised by Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to celebrate the 30 years of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and South Korea. The Korean Products Show, Dhaka 2003 is showcasing a vast array of products and services from South Korea in a total of 27 stalls -- 24 set up by leading Korean companies and three by their local agents. On the first day, a huge number of visitors, including buyers, importers and traders, flocked to the fair at the ballroom of Sonargaon Hotel to buy necessary items as well as know about the products and services put on display. Showing keen interest in South Korean products, some local importers and traders talked to the exhibitors for making business contact with them. The displayed items include electronics, computer software, electrical appliances, automobile and auto parts, household appliances, construction materials, dry cell battery, industrial boiler, kitchenwares, water purifier, gas cooker, bottling and canning plant, Internet and network solution, generator, GSM mobile phone set, noodle making machine, mosquito trap and Ginseng products. The show will remain open to visitors everyday till Thursday from 10am to 7pm.
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