Hasina urges French to invest in Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged French businesspeople to invest in Bangladesh saying the country offers friendly foreign investment and trade regimes.
"My message to you is simple -- France needs to invest to sustain its growth, while Bangladesh needs investment to expedite its growth. You need competitive sourcing options while we look for diversifying our export destinations.”
“This offers a perfect combination for a win-win partnership for both of our countries," she said.
The premier was speaking at a meeting with the leaders of Movement for the Enterprise of France (MEDEF) at Lulli of Intercontinental Paris Le Grand (Opera) hotel in the French capital.
Hasina said Bangladesh is a land of opportunities and potential and it has one of the friendliest foreign investment and trade regimes in the region.
"We strongly encourage French companies to come up with investments, including with concessional financing options," she said.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is a huge market of 160 million people. Located between south and southeast Asia, Bangladesh is the natural gateway between the Asean and Saarc regions.
"We're also investing heavily to improve regional connectivity. Thus investing in Bangladesh will give you access to the entire region, a market of nearly 2 billion people," she said. Hasina said her government is setting up 100 special economic zones across the country. "We invite you to set up a French SEZ in Bangladesh."
She said there is scope for further French investment in the urban infrastructure, energy and the blue economy sectors besides the traditional areas of trade between the two countries.
"We're also in talks with French authorities to support our efforts in these sectors." The prime minister said she is encouraged to see the growth in bilateral trade and investment between Bangladesh and France in recent years.
Two-way trade between Bangladesh and France stands at over $2 billion. France is now Bangladesh's fifth largest export destination, Hasina said. French foreign direct investment in Bangladesh was $14.64 million in 2016-17.
"I understand that a visit by MEDEF leaders to Bangladesh is expected to take place soon. We welcome that. Such a visit will surely contribute to further expansion of bilateral trade and investment between Bangladesh and France," she said.
Despite challenges, the PM said Bangladesh achieved 7.28 percent GDP growth last fiscal year and this powerful momentum has created huge opportunities in the country.
“And the strength of Bangladesh's economy is globally recognised."
MEDEF Chairman Pierre Gattaz led the French business delegation at the meeting.