BD-Hong Kong FTA deal on cards

Staff Reporter  :
The Hong Kong investors are keen to ink a deal on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Hong Kong.

The urge came during a seminar titled “Investment Opportunities in the EPZs and EZ of BEPZA, Bangladesh” jointly organized by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) in Inter Continental Grand Stanford Hotel, Hong Kong on 20 June.

The Executive Chairman of BEPZA Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman was the Chief Guest and Israt Ara, Consul General of Bangladesh, was invited as the special guest in the Seminar.

During the seminar, some renowned investors of Hong Kong who have already been successfully investing in Bangladesh for many years shared their experiences of doing business in Bangladesh.

Comparing with other countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, they encouraged the investors to invest in Bangladesh due to its huge labour force with comparative wage, hard working people, infrastructural development, manufacturing cost, etc.

The Hong Kong investors also urged to expedite the process of conclusion of agreements and consider signing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.

In her speech, Israt Ara shed light on the bilateral trade relations as well as investment received from Hong Kong in different sectors.

She updated the audience about the on-going initiatives to sign the trade related agreements between Bangladesh and Hong Kong e.g Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTAA).

Highlighting the incentives provided by the Government of Bangladesh, the Consul General also encouraged the potential investors of Hong Kong to invest in Bangladesh.

More than 200 investors including officials of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), representative of major business chambers attended the seminar.