PM Hasina calls for greater trade and investment with France

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on business leaders in France to increase their trade with and investment in Bangladesh.

Sumon Mahbub, from Parisbdnews24.com
Published : 13 Dec 2017, 10:55 AM
Updated : 13 Dec 2017, 10:55 AM

“Bangladesh is currently perusing a ‘Broader Engagement with Europe Policy’, with particular focus on creating new opportunities for enhanced trade and investment,” she said at a business networking breakfast meeting with Mouvement des entreprises de France, the largest employer federation in the country, in Paris on Wednesday.

“France prominently features in our dealing with Europe,” she said.

The prime minister highlighted her government’s bilateral economic relations with France, specifically Thales Alenia Space’s work on the Bangabandhu Satellite and Technip’s work on the second phase of the Eastern Refinery.

She also highlighted  the advances made by the Bangladesh economy, including a GDP growth rate of 7.28 percent, a foreign currency reserve of $32.1 billion and exports amounting to $34.66 billion.

“We are transforming lives of 162 million people to a digitalised knowledge-based society driven by our ‘Digital Bangladesh’ vision,” she said.

“Poverty has been reduced from 57 percent to 22 percent in less than two decades. Life expectancy increased to 72 years. GDP per capita is now $1,610.”

The prime minister also spoke of the population of 30 million middle class and affluent people in the country, the estimated 48 percent urbanisation of the total population by 2030 and exports in the apparel, textile, leather, frozen foods, ship building, pharmaceutical and IT industries.

Hasina said her visit celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries and expressed her enthusiasm for closer ties to realise the full potential of the relationship.

“Let us be partners in the quest for prosperity of our two peoples. Together we can bring a change in the life of millions,” she said.