The meeting was co-hosted by Robert Chatterton Dickson, the British High Commissioner, and Francois de Maricourt, the Chair of the BBG and CEO of HSBC Bangladesh.  

Planning Minister MA Mannan was the guest of honour and chief speaker at the meeting attended by members of the BBG and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem.

Minister Mannan said the Prime Minister’s first priority is the country’s development and business is part of her strategy for delivering that. 

"The government’s door is open to business. It wants to hear from firms where the bottlenecks are and it’ll ensure fast-track resolution. It wants a business environment fit for the 21st century,” he said.  

Francois de Maricourt said continued infrastructure investment is important for ensuring that the country is ready to meet the challenges of moving to a middle-income one.  

"British business, particularly its financial and professional services sector, was well placed to contribute to Bangladesh’s development,”

British High Commissioner Dickson said trade is an important part of the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the UK; and could be made even more so in the future with progress on improving Ease of Doing Business.

“The UK is the second largest investor in Bangladesh and Bangladesh is the third largest destination for Bangladeshi exports," he said.  

The meeting heard how the government is planning for the momentous move from least developed country to middle-income one by 2021. 

In a recent report, HSBC predicted that Bangladesh is likely to be the biggest mover in global GDP rankings by 2030 (from 42nd to 26th).  

British firms, including those who already have a commercial presence in the country, can help Bangladesh achieve that goal, said the speakers.