Turkish businesses urged to invest in Bangladesh

Turkish businesses can consider the 100 economic zones and 28 high-tech parks of Bangladesh as their preferred investment destinations, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Rizwan Rahman said today.

The bilateral trade between the two countries now stands at around $900 million, which is not satisfactory at all, he said.

Trade diversification can enhance the amount of the bilateral trade to over $2 billion, Rahman said.

He made the call in a meeting with Turkish Minister for Trade Mehmut Mus at the latter's ministry at Ankara in Turkiye on October 2.

The progress in public-private and business-to-business partnerships between the two countries remain low, the DCCI president said.

He also requested the Turkish minister to extend the current duty- and quota-free tariff line facility to Bangladesh, which is now 79.9 per cent for trade growth.

Moreover, joint economic commission meetings should be held regularly to arrange effective joint exhibitions and seminars on bilateral economic issues and address trade issues, Rahman said.

Furthermore, Bangladesh and Turkiye can work and advocate together to form an effective D-8 economic bloc, he said.

The Turkish minister agreed that the bilateral trade is not up to the mark.

He also termed Bangladesh as an attractive investment destination.

Both the countries should work together to enhance this trade volume, Mus said.

Some Turkish companies are already doing business in Bangladesh and they are doing very well, he said.

"And this success will be an example for others to invest in Bangladesh."

Ambassador of Bangladesh in Ankara Mosud Mannan was also present at the meeting.