Munshi calls for Bangladesh-Canada business forum

A forum comprising businesspeople from Bangladesh and Canada should be formed to increase trade and investment between the two countries, said Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi yesterday.

The proposed platform will help continue dialogue between the business communities of the two countries, which will ultimately help boost export to Canada from Bangladesh, he said after a meeting with Benoit Préfontaine, high commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh, at the secretariat in Dhaka.

Similarly, Canada will also be able to increase its exports to Bangladesh.

The trade balance between Bangladesh and Canada is heavily tilted towards Bangladesh.

Bangladesh exported goods worth $1.11 billion to Canada last fiscal year and imported goods worth $498.16 million, according to the commerce ministry.

Apparel items account for more than 95 percent of Bangladesh's exports to Canada.

Moreover, the governments of the both the countries would be able to take decisions easily based on the recommendations of the businesspeople, Munshi added.

Bangladesh has made a lot of progress but there is little dissemination of the country's success story around the world, Préfontaine said.

Canada will continue its help with repatriation of Rohingya people and will stand by Bangladesh in this connection, a statement from the commerce ministry quoted the envoy as saying.

The high commissioner also said his country would continue to support Bangladesh so that a higher number of Bangladeshi students can obtain quality education in Canada.