FBCCI business summit 2023: Accelerating the trillion dollar journey

Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Business Summit 2023, to be held in Dhaka from March 11-13, will showcase the country’s economic and market strengths, and concrete trade and investment opportunities by convening national and global business leaders.
The Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the apex trade organisation, has organised the greatest event for the first time since the country’s independence to mark its 50th founding anniversary.
Meanwhile, about 250 foreign delegates have confirmed their participation at the event to be held next week. The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of over a dozen of global and regional multinational companies have already confirmed their participation.
FBCCI President Jashim Uddin made the announcement during a luncheon meeting held in honour of Editors and CEOs of print and electronic media at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Saturday.
Jashim Uddin said “Bangladesh is accelerating a trillion-dollar journey through this summit. That’s why our slogan for this event is ‘Trillion Dollar Economy’. For this, we have to lay emphasis on the domestic market rather than exports.”
The Ministry of Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and BIDA are co-partners of the summit.
The FBCCI president said ministers and state ministers from nine countries, including India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, China, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, and the WTO-Geneva have confirmed their participation in the summit.
He expressed his enthusiasm to showcase Bangladesh’s world-class products to the foreign delegates.
The three-day summit will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on March 11. Ministers, economists, businesses, and foreign delegates will participate in several panel discussions on a wide range of business and economic issues. A separate session on Japan has been scheduled as per the request from the Asian giant.
The FBCCI president said Bangladesh is an emerging economy and is set to graduate from its LDC status in 2026. The country’s GDP has grown from $90 billion in 2008 to $460 billion this year. He believes Bangladesh can be the future manufacturing hub for the world.
He said, “Exports from Bangladesh are easy, and the local market has been growing fast, with rising purchasing power among consumers. With a population of 170 million, of which 65 percent are in the working-age category, Bangladesh can aim to become the next manufacturing and digital economy hub.”
Besides, the FBCCI president said the country has several large-scale ports, 100 economic zones, and a transformed power and energy sector, along with land, an improved business environment, and simplified regulations that can help develop Bangladesh into a haven for investors.
After Jashim Uddin ended his deliberations, the floor was given to the attending media personalities both from the print and electronics to seek suggestions on how to make the event fruitful.
During the summit, CNN’s team of experts will explore the new ideas, technologies and leadership skills that will shape Bangladesh’s economic and social future. CNN’s editor-at-large, anchor and correspondent Richard Quest will speak to business leaders from major international companies, particularly those responsible for creating a business environment