Brand Bangladesh

Trade between Bangladesh and Germany is increasing at a faster pace in recent years.
Germany, the biggest economy in Europe, is the single largest export destination for Bangladeshi products in the European Union.
For the continuation of such a high trade growth, a high-powered business delegation is going to Germany today for holding meetings and seminars in efforts to bring more German investors and buyers to Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also scheduled to attend a business forum in Germany on October 24, and German President Christian Wulff is due in Dhaka on November 28.
Daniel Seidl, executive director of Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI), yesterday shared the concept of branding Bangladesh with The Daily Star.
He said branding Bangladesh is the main target for holding such an important forum because many people in Germany and EU still think that Bangladesh is a country of natural disasters and child labour.
“But, this is not true anymore. Many good things are happening here,” Seidl said, adding that Bangladesh has a chance to turn around the negative perception through improving qualitative business relations not only with Germany, but also with the entire EU.
In Germany, 80 percent enterprises fall in small and medium enterprises category. “So, Bangladesh has an opportunity to tap the potential of SME development through joint-venture businesses,” he said.
He said Bangladesh can also utilise the German expertise in vocational training. The BGCCI is going to hold the second biennial German Trade Show in Bangladesh from October 27.
Bangladesh exported goods worth 2,876 million euros to Germany in 2010-11, with a 45 percent growth over the previous year, while imported goods worth 522 million euros, according to the BGCCI data.
Bangladesh mainly exported garments and imported industrial machinery.