“Bangladesh and Finland may explore trade recovery through bilateral value chain initiative utilizing Finland’s cutting edge technology support and Bangladesh’s production competitive edge, maximizing our global market access opportunities,” FBCCI president Sheikh Fazle Fahim said, at an event jointly organized by FBCCI and the Finnish Chamber of Commerce (FINNCHAM).
The event was titled “Finland Bangladesh business event on bilateral trade and investment opportunities in the ongoing global pandemic and beyond.”
“The relationship between the two countries is long. Finnish companies like Wärtsilä can set up manufacturing plant in Bangladesh. They can supply locally produced components to local and neighboring markets. Healthcare, renewable energy, sustainable forestry, smart agriculture are also some of the highly prospective areas for joint partnership,” he also said.
Commemorating 100th birth centenary of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman FBCCI president said Bangladesh is moving towards a developed nation based on his foundation spearheaded by visionary Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“Bilateral trade between two countries has huge potential. Joint initiatives setting up manufacturing plants in Bangladesh, should be taken to utilize the opportunity,” he added.
Ville Skinnari, Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade ministry, Finland, said before covid-19, Trade between two countries expanded slowly but steadily. “We hope we will get back to the path quickly. Bangladesh has huge potential to export more in Finland. We can do more and better together,” Skinnari also said.
Commerce minister Tipu Munshi said Finland is one of those European countries, who first recognize Bangladesh. Trade between two countries increased steadily in recent years. Exporters of Bangladesh are eager to find more opportunities in Finland.
“Imports of raw materials were hampered due to covid-19, as well as industrial production. We are worried about the second wave, which should be dealt internationally,” he also added.
Juho Romakkaniemi, President and CEO of FINNCHAM, said Finnish companies are very interested in looking for new business opportunities when Bangladesh is taking new steps in modernization of the economy.’
‘We are interested in public and private investments in Bangladesh. But we must together develop our ways of benefiting from international development finance projects and public procurements’, he added.
He said, “We are also looking for new ways of building business relations between our companies. For further development we are ready to consider setting up a Bilateral Business Council with business representatives from both countries.”
Jaakko Eskola, President and CEO of Wärtsilä said, ‘We started our operation in Bangladesh in early 90’s. Now we are leaders in providing components in the energy sector. In the future we have to emphasize renewable energy.”
Janne Kalliomäki, CEO of Mecalift said, ‘Bangladesh is developing quickly. It is a potential market for us.’
Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, CEO of FBCCI moderated the function while Timo Vuori, Executive Vice President of FINNCHAM gave closing remarks. Jenni Isola, Senior Adviser of FINNCHAM; Sonia Bashir Kabir, Advisor to FBCCI; and Professor Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar, Advisor to FBCCI also spoke there.