Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has invited Indian entrepreneurs to invest in the Economic Zones  in Bangladesh that are already ready for operation.

A 47-member DCCI delegation led by its President Rizwan Rahman had an industry interactive meet with the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce at a hotel in Kolkata on Wednesday.    

During the meeting, DCCI President Rizwan Rahman, also the leader of the Business delegation, said pharmaceuticals, footwear, energy, food processing, light engineering, ICT are some of the areas where Indian investors can tap the opportunities.

Also read: DCCI urges Philippines to invest in Bangladesh’s healthcare, tourism sectors

Besides, initiative of signing comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between India and Bangladesh will usher a win-win situation for both end businesses, he added. Later, he also sought joint collaboration on different non-tariff issues which hinders our business scopes.

Meanwhile, President of Calcutta Chamber of Commerce Shailja Mehta said India is the biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in South Asia. “Toward achieving advantageous trade figures, both the nations need to diversify trade with active industry participation.”

Better market access, improved physical connectivity and transit and energy trade between India and Bangladesh are important instruments for unlocking bilateral trade potential, she added.

She also termed tourism as one of the important area where there are huge potential to tap into. 

The bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India hovers within USD 9.87 billion having a potential of USD 16.4 billion forecast by the World Bank, DCCI said in a press release.

Also read: DCCI president tries to woo Sri Lankan investment, as envoy drops in

Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Kolkata Andalib Elias was also present on the occasion and he said there is a deficit between the bilateral trades but it is decreasing day by day.

During the last five to six years, the bilateral trade has multiplied about 2.5 times, he added.

Later, an interactive B2B match-making was organised where DCCI business delegation and Calcutta Chamber of Commerce took part.