Expo spotlights potential of Canada-Bangladesh trade
The Showcase Canada 2015 started in Dhaka yesterday, aiming to boost trade and investment between Bangladesh and Canada.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed inaugurated the two-day event, organised by Canada Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CanCham) in association with the High Commission of Canada, at Sonargaon Hotel.
Some 32 companies, including local firms, are displaying their products and services at the show, which will remain open until today -- from 10:00am to 8:00pm.
While addressing a seminar on the challenges and opportunities in trade between the two countries, organised on the sidelines of the show, Ahmed said businesses are being hampered by the ongoing violent activities.
“The business people are suffering. But the situation will not continue for a long time -- it will be normalised soon.”
Describing the current political activities as terrorism, Ahmed said no force can stop the country's development. “People will protect it and will take the country toward development.”
Benoit Pierre Laramee, Canadian high commissioner in Dhaka, said Bangladesh has achieved significant and consistent economic growth in the last few years.
But in order to reach the middle-income status by the middle of next decade, the growth needs to be accelerated, he said.
Improving governance, infrastructure and energy will help attract private sector investment and achieve development goals, he said, adding that economic and social development are built on the foundations of good governance, peace and democracy. Laramee hopes the country will be able to resolve these challenges and move from being a least-developed country to a middle-income one by 2021.
In another seminar titled, “Greening RMG”, speakers emphasised introducing green concept and technology in the apparel sector.
Global brands are progressively becoming more interested in knowing if garment products are being manufactured in an eco-friendly environment, said Laramee.
More addition is possible through production at an eco-friendly environment, he said, adding that Bangladeshi entrepreneurs could do well by focusing on the green concept.
Presenting a keynote paper, Rodney Reed, chairman of Reed Consulting, said going green can help a factory get better market access, increase sales volume, reach new customers and improve price as well as workers condition.
Fazlul Hoque, managing director of Plummy Fashions, said international buyers should pay a little extra to eco-friendly factories so that others are encouraged to invest in green technologies. Huge investment is needed to become green and if one project fails, no other will dare to invest in the area, he added.
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