06/03/2021
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority ( BIDA www.bida.gov.bd ) and the Better Bangladesh Foundation-BBF, a reputed think-tank and development organization have joined hands in a bid to attract more foreign investments in the country.
The partnership, as its first initiative, will organise a virtual Bangladesh-Italy investment summit on April 2021 aiming to boost the bilateral trade relations between the two countries and promote investment.
Besides, the two organisations will continue to implement a wide range of programmes to encourage more foreign investments in Bangladesh in coming days under the agreement.
To this effect, both the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the BIDA headquarters in the city's Agargaon area on Tuesday.
Mr. Mosharraf Hossain, BIDA Executive Member, and Prof. Masud A. Khan, Founder and Chairman of Better Bangladesh Foundation and Chairman of BBF Global , inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides.
BIDA Executive Chairman Md Sirazul Islam, BBF ED Ms. Nahima Aktar and BIDA Executive Members, Directors and BBF officials , among others, were present at the ceremony.
The partnership is expected to leverage the BBF 's networks at home and abroad to target high value, hi-technology and high impact investments covering key priority sectors including agriculture, ICT, electronics, light engineering, renewable energy, power and health care.
Under the partnership, the first virtual investment summit on April will showcase the collaboration potential between Bangladesh and Italy and highlight the emerging strategic opportunities.
Policymakers, bureaucrats, entrepreneurs and other professionals from both the countries will join the virtual event.
Addressing the ceremony, BIDA chairman said Bangladesh's vision to become a middle income country by 2024 and a developed one by 2041 largely depends on foreign investments.
Several government investment promotion agencies like BIDA have been working to attract and facilitate investments here, he said.
"I expect the partnership between BIDA and the BBF will play a significant role in drawing more foreign investments," he said. Mr. Islam said , I am truly impressed to see that BBF is playing a pivotal role to enhance the image of the country through their sister concern BBF Global. BBF has strong network all over the globe which I have witnessed attending their number of virtual summits.
"Public and private sector collaboration is now more important, as we aim to overcome challenges of Covid-19 and leverage the opportunities of the new normal," he said.
BBF Chairman Prof. Masud A. Khan said BBF in partnership with BIDA will organize number of Road shows , Seminars, symposiums to attract foreign Investment and most importantly will create a positive image of Bangladesh. Masud seeking cooperation from all quarters to make it happened.
Earlier, the BBF held number of investment summits where BIDA Executive joined as Key Speaker and Special Guest , in presence of Commerce Minister, Planning Minister, Industry Minister, Post and Telecommunication Minister as well as number of local and foreign dignitaries under its flagship event known as 'Bangladesh as attractive Investment Destination'.
