Business people and representatives of Bangladesh and Turkey at a meeting have expressed their keenness to harness the business potentials between the two countries and hoped that the trade could reach a $10b mark with sincere efforts.
The Turkey Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & industry (TBCCI) hoisted the dinner meeting to focus on the Turkey World Trade Bridge, at the Ball Room of Istanbul Restaurant Ltd in Dhaka recently.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Motahar Hossain, Turkey ambassador in Bangladesh Hüseyin Müftüoglu, honorary consul general of Turkey to Chittagong Salahuddin Kashem Khan, former president of Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry Abdul Haque were among the special guests.
The participants of Turkey World Trade Bridge during last few years, TBCCI Members and business elites from different sectors were present in the meeting.
TBCCI president Fikret Çiçek said, “Bangladesh and Turkey have been maintaining friendly relations for long time, but the economic relations are not so satisfactory as per expectation.”
He, however, said that the businessmen of both the countries are exchanging business information and developing business and investment ties during the last three to four years and bilateral trade between the countries has crossed $ 1 billion mark by this time.
He said a Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) have been working relentlessly to make a Trade Bridge among the world Business people. TUSKON have been organizing Turkey World Trade Bridge (TWTB) since 2006, where thousands of businessmen from different countries are participating. Bangladeshi businessmen from different sectors have been participating in TWTB with the assistance of TBCCI. since 2008.
“Turkey World Trade Bridge is not only a fair, but also a huge gathering of world business leaders. It gives the opportunity to meet the world business people making easy way to the world market,” said and called upon the Bangladeshi business people to attend the TWTB-2013 to develop economic ties.
Salahuddin Kasem Khan said that the relations between Bangladesh and Turkey have been increasing day by day, the bilateral trade also increased remarkably in recent years.
“The two countries have set a target of $ 3 billion Trade during the last visit of Turkish President to Bangladesh,” he said and requested the new ambassador to put his best efforts to establish trade relations to achieve the target.
He urged the Turkish businessmen to invest in potential sectors in Bangladesh.
Turkey envoy Hüseyin Müftüoglu said that there were tremendous market opportunities for businessmen of both the countries. “If we try with our best, of course we can achieve the target, even it can be 5 to 10 billion,” he said.
He was optimistic to say that Bangladesh will be one of the 50 economies of the world within few years.
State minister Motahar Hossain requested Turkey initiate industrial and charity projects in Bangladesh.
Source: The Independent