Asia-Pacific businesses to talk trade in Dhaka

Business leaders from over two dozen countries of the Asia-Pacific region will sit together in Dhaka for two days starting today to discuss how they can boost trade and investment among themselves.  

The summit will be held under the banner of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) in association with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka.

The theme of the summit is “Asia at the centre of a new world order”. This is the first CACCI summit in Dhaka following its inception in 1966 and Bangladesh becoming a member of it.

“Bangladesh is the fastest growing economy worldwide. Bangladesh is a success story of the world,” reasoned CACCI President Samir Modi on choosing Dhaka at a press conference at the Sonargaon hotel yesterday.

The summit will help to establish a strong network among the nations and do business with Bangladesh, he said.

Businessmen, importers, exporters, academicians, experts, researchers and policymakers from 27 CACCI member countries will take part.

FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim said trade worth Tk 3.2 lakh crore took place in Bangladesh over the past decade.

“We want to accelerate this trade further. The CACCI member countries are eager to invest here. We will also find the business opportunities from this summit,” Fahim responded to journalists’ queries.

“It is a great opportunity for us as the businessmen from 27 countries will come here and engage in trade negotiation,” he said.

He also said a halal summit of D-8 nations would take place in Bangladesh next year alongside a lot of international business conferences.

The last CACCI conference was held in Turkey last year.

Fahim said the CACCI summit would have sessions on business opportunities through the chambers, the next decade of Asia Pacific in a changing global order, technologies transforming economies, pursuit of equitable and sustainable growth and building an enabling environment for inclusive digital transformation.

Others include promotion of entrepreneurships, achieving food security and food safety, overcoming the digital gender divide and promoting SME development, he said.

The end will feature a “Dhaka Declaration” while the FBCCI will highlight Bangladesh’s achievements over the past 10 years, Fahim said.