PARIS, FRANCE: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the French businessmen to invest in the special economic zone of her country.
The Premier said, “We have established 100 special economic zones across Bangladesh to boost industrialization. I am inviting French businessmen to establish ‘French Special Economic Zone,’ in Bangladesh. Apart from historical trade between us, I think there are opportunities for investment in sectors like infrastructure, energy, blue-economic and other sectors as well.”
Sheikh Hasina made the request while having a views exchange meeting with a French businessmen organization called ‘MEDEF International’ held in Inter-Continental Paris La Grand Hotel in Paris on Wednesday (September 12).
Sheikh Hasina said France needs to invest to sustain its growth while Bangladesh needs investment to expedite its growth.
"You need competitive sourcing option while we look for diversifying our export destination. This offers a perfect combination for a win-win partnership for both our countries," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said she is encouraged seeing the growth in bilateral trade and investment between Bangladesh and France in recent years. "Two-way trade between Bangladesh and France stands at over USD 2 billion," she said.
France is now Bangladesh's fifth largest export destination, she said adding that in continuation of our ever-expanding bilateral economic relations, Thales Alenia Space, a Franco-Italian aerospace manufacturer, was awarded the contract in 2015 to build and launch the Bangabandhu Satellite, first of its kind for Bangladesh.
French FDI in Bangladesh was USD 14.64 million in 2016-17, she said adding that "We strongly encourage French companies to come up with investments, including with concessional financing options."
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is a huge market of 160 million people located between south and southeast Asia. Its geographical location has made Bangladesh the natural gateway between the ASEAN and SAARC regions, she added.
"So the investment in Bangladesh will give you access to the market of the entire region, which is a market of nearly two billion people," she said.
Turning to her yesterday's fruitful meeting with President Macron, the prime minister said they share the vision to expand bilateral relations and cooperation between our two countries.
Sheikh Hasina said her participation in this One Planet Summit is reiteration of Bangladesh's support to the Paris Climate Agreement (COP-21). Bangladesh appreciates France's leadership in taking forward the climate change consensus, she said.
BDST: 140 HRS, DEC 13, 2017
AH/AP/SMS
