German team finds potentials in shipbuilding

Bangladesh is losing huge opportunities in the global trade and commerce arena due to energy and infrastructure challenges despite huge potentials in shipbuilding, IT and industry sectors, said Head of the visiting German delegation here yesterday. "I do see Bangladesh has some trade related challenges as well as opportunities and a number of committed and business minded people. There are still scopes to transform these challenges into opportunities", said Peter Clasen at a seminar here.
Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI) organized the seminar on "Investment Climate and Economic Prospects for Bangladesh" in cooperation with OVA-German Asia- Pacific Business Association.
The team, comprising 20 representatives from shipbuilding, engineering and energy sectors, attended the meting as part of its series of business-to-business dialogues to find out potential partners on the market developments and the framework for doing business in Bangladesh.
BGCCI President Saiful Islam gave the introductory remarks while former finance adviser of the caretaker government Dr Mirza Azizul Islam and former senior economist of South Asia Region, World Bank, Zaidi Sattar spoke as designated discussants.
Three important keynote papers depicting the country's economic outlook were presented at the seminar. Noted banker Mamun Rashid, former director general of power cell and power division BD Rahmatullah and managing director of Shipwrights, Bangladesh Ltd Mahboob Ahmed made the presentations in respective fields.
Established businessmen belonging to various sectors shared their experiences and ideas on the dialogue, also joined, among others, by German Ambassador to Bangladesh Holger Michael, director of kfW, Dhaka Office Christoph Isenmann and Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam.
Peter Clasen spoke of his government's plan for expanding the existing business relation with Bangladesh as the German government sees some improvements in trade and commerce.
He termed Dhaka City as a classroom of industry sector and said smooth supply of utilities like power and gas must be ensured not only in the metropolis but also other important parts of Bangladesh.
Dr Mirza Azizul Islam said Bangladesh has become one of the best performers in the world due to its sound financial sector and vibrant capital market because of the market's daily turnover is as high as many other South Asian countries.