Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (October 23, 2023) urged Swiss entrepreneurs to make investments in Bangladesh to create a mini Switzerland in the South Asian country. Swiss businesses can invest in Bangladesh in the special economic zones (SEZs), she said, adding "We will provide lands (in SEZs) and they can make a mini Switzerland here,” she said. The premier made this call when Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Siegfried Renggli paid a courtesy call on her at the Prime Minister’s Office. Read: Some Western powers seek to install a puppet government in Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells ALPP meeting Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the call on. In response the ambassador said Swiss companies are interested to invest in Bangladesh, said the press secretary. The envoy said the volume of trade between Bangladesh and Switzerland should be increased. He said he will continue to work for further strengthening the bilateral relations and cooperation. The envoy appreciated the economic development of Bangladesh under the leadership of PM Hasina in the last one decade. Read: All enjoy equal religious rights in Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells Hindus celebrating Durga Puja He said that Switzerland would work together with Bangladesh to fight the adverse impact of climate change. PM Hasina said the focus of her government is on the development of rural people of Bangladesh. “The backbone of development is middle class people,” she added. “We are taking many programmes to reduce the extreme poverty rate to zero, at least to one percent,” she added. The prime minister mentioned that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a vision to “make Bangladesh as the Switzerland of the East”. She recalled that she was with Bangabandhu when he visited Switzerland at the invitation of Swiss government after undergoing surgery in London. Read: PM mourns death of Patuakhali-1 MP Md Shahjahan Mia Talking about connectivity, she said Bangladesh can be a bridge between the East and the West. So, the government is now developing the airports to this end. "We look forward to transforming Bangladesh-Switzerland bilateral relations into a broad-based partnership," she said.The prime minister assured the ambassador of extending all cooperation in discharging his duty in Dhaka. The Swiss envoy handed over the copy of a letter to Sheikh Hasina, which Bangabandhu sent to the Switzerland government in replying to Swiss recognition to Bangladesh as an independent country. Receiving the letter, the prime minister said that the letter will be displayed in the museum. PM's Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah And Deputy Head of Swiss Mission in Bangladesh Corinne Henchoz Pignani were present.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged Qatar’s businesspeople and entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh’s Special Economic Zones. She also sought more cooperation of Qatar in importing LNGs and fertiliser from the Gulf Country. The premier sought the cooperation when visiting Labor Minister of Qatar Dr. Ali bin Saed bin Smaikh Al Marri called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban. Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the call on. Referring to the Special Economic Zones being set up in the country, the PM said, Qatar can take land there like China, India, Japan and South Korea did in setting up industries there. Also read: PM Hasina urges public servants to work for people's welfare She said that Bangladesh attaches special priority to the bilateral relation with the close brotherly country. On the Rohingya issue the premier said that 11 lakh Myanmar nationals, sheltered in Bangladesh, are now a burden for the country. She said that her government moved nearly 30 thousand Rohingyas  to Bhashanchar island for their better living. The OIC is supporting Bangladesh on this issue, she noted. Talking about Covid-19 pandemic, PM Hasina said, the situation is under control, but the government is very cautious about it. At the meeting, the minister of Qatar said that he had fruitful discussion with Bangladesh minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment affairs on the issue of manpower. Also read: Qatar to take more workers from Bangladesh The Qatar’s minister expressed his country’s keenness to cooperate with Bangladesh in the energy and medical sectors. Highly appreciating Bangladeshi workers in Qatar the minister said, at present 4 lakh Bangladeshis are working there and they are the second largest foreign community in the country. The minister said that Qatar is now ready for the upcoming World Cup Football to be started on 20th November next and invited the Prime Minister to attend the most high voltage tournament. During the meeting, Dr. Ali bin Saed conveyed greetings of the Ameer and the Prime Minister of Qatar to Sheikh Hasina. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmad, PM's Principal Secretary  Ahmad Kaikaus, Secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment  Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Md Jashim Uddin, Qatar's Charge D' Affairs in Bangladesh Saeed Al Samikh, were present at the meeting.

The progress of setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZ) has slowed down due to complexities in land acquisition and development activities due to the impact of Covid-19. The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) was established by law in 2010, with the aim to establish 100 economic zones by 2030 across the country. Special focus would be given to backward and underdeveloped regions to encourage rapid economic development through diversification of industry, employment, production and export’. The Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in a survey report recently expressed their concern over the slow pace of SEZs project implementation. Read: NBR slaps additional duty on 135 luxury items to discourage import  The organization represents investors from a total of 35 countries. About 90 percent of the total foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country comes from FICCI members. The companies have investments in banking, non-bank financial institutions, cement, ceramics, chemicals, construction, housing, consulting, fast-moving consumer goods, gas-electricity, leather and leather goods, clothing and transportation. According to the FICCI, the government has so far approved 97 zones, comprising 68 public and 29 private economic zones.

Japan eyes three special economic zones (SEZs), including the one at Araihajar, Narayanjanj, to give a big boost to Japanese investment in Bangladesh but things depend on the success of the first one, says Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito. “This (Araihajar EZ) should provide the best possible environment and the best possible incentives for the investors,” he said, adding that a special economic zone is a very important key to invite an increasing number of Japanese companies to invest in Bangladesh.   Ambassador Ito said he has been advocating that Araihajar should be the best possible economic zone in Asia, beating its rivals in countries like Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines.  The envoy said they will look into opportunities at Mirsarai under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar, being developed on a contiguous land of 30,000 acres, and a possible economic zone in Maheshkhali-Matarbari area if Araihajar becomes successful. He shared the plans on the three potential economic zones for the Japanese investors in Bangladesh while responding to questions at a virtual dialogue titled “Bangladesh-Japan Relations: Prognosis for the Future” where he delivered the keynote speech.   Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Cosmos Group, hosted the dialogue as part of its ongoing Ambassador’s Lecture Series.   The opening remarks were delivered by the Cosmos Foundation Chairman Enayetullah Khan. The session was chaired by Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, renowned scholar-diplomat and former Advisor on Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Caretaker Government. Md Abul Kalam Azad, Special Envoy, Climate Vulnerable Forum; Hayakawa Yuho, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh Office; Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former Governor, Bangladesh Bank; Prof Masaaki Ohashi, Professor, University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo; Manzurul Huq, Columnist, writer and academic; Prof Takahara Akio, Dean, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo and Ambassador (Retd) Tariq A Karim, Honorary Advisor Emeritus, Cosmos Foundation comprised the panel of discussants. Read: Ambassador Ito sees 5 challenges ahead to elevate Dhaka-Tokyo ties Ambassador Ito said the Economic Zone at Araihajar will be ready for its operation by the end of the next year.

Mentioning Bangladesh is a very attractive country for foreign investors, the Ambassador of Japan in Bangladesh Naoki Ito on Saturday said the Japanese big companies are very keen to invest more in the country’s special economic zones. “The location of Bangladesh is very important strategically and economically. Around 300 Japanese companies are operating in Bangladesh. Many Japanese big companies including Mitsubishi will invest more in Bangladesh’s economic zones including Araihazar, Mirsarai and Matarbari,” Ambassador Ito said while addressing a webinar. The virtual discussion was jointly organized by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Better Bangladesh Foundation (BBF) while BBF chairman Prof Masud A Khan moderated the function. Naoki Ito said 50 percent of Japanese companies are going to invest in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Bangladesh is a regional hub for investment. The coronavirus has created vulnerability in supply chain. However, it’s time to invest in Bangladesh. Also read: Japan confirms largest-ever loan package to Bangladesh “Bangladesh is a potential country for investment. So infrastructure development is very important. Japan government has been supporting Bangladesh for long in this regard,” he also said. Naoki added that Bangladesh can catch new markets in Asian countries including Japan and Korea with its diversified RMG products.    Planning Minister MA Mannan said the government has been working hard for better living. “Our economy is a win-win situation. We have made smooth places for investors. BIDA has opened one stop services to make services easy for all,” he also said. Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Atiur Rahman positioned Bangladesh as a very good destination for investors. "The country has been able to develop in all sectors. There is no power cut now," the ex-head of the central bank pointed out. Also read: Economic ties with Bangladesh to make leap: Japanese PM “The major projects including Padma Bridge, Metro rail and Matarbari are game changers for the country. We need to skill up our youths. The country is an attractive destination for all investors,” he also said. BIDA Executive chairman Sirazul Islam said they are trying to facilitate investment process for local and international investment. “We have run one stop services to make hassle free activities. I believe that it will improve our ease of doing business rank. Our rank is 168 now that’s not good. We have recently reformed many things. I hope this position will improve much more in the upcoming ranking,” he added. Sirazul also said they arrange all things for foreign investors such as receiving in airport, transportation and hotel services. Also read: BIG-B important for Bangladesh, others with enhanced connectivity: Japanese economist “With the experience, I am so excited about the services offered by BIDA, and 100% confident about Bangladeshi economy. Now, I am managing foreign investment here in Dhaka. I am willing to contribute what I have learnt from Harvard and China’s economic growth to Bangladesh. Indeed, I am willing to share my experience and stories to attract more young talents and investors to Bangladesh,” said Nicole Mao, one of the Chinese investors in Bangladesh. Presenting key-note paper titled-“Bangladesh is a land of opportunities for trade and investment,” BIDA director Ariful Hoque said Bangladesh’s trade –GDP ratio has increased to 38 percent in 2018 from 18.9 percent in 1990. “Bangladesh became the most gender-equal country in South Asia. Per capita income rises to $2079 in 2019 from $928 in 2010. Bangladesh achieved around 7 percent growth during the last decade,” he also said. He added that 150 services of 34 agencies will be offered through One Stop Services (OSS).  41 services of 11 agencies are included from OSS.

The special economic zones are changing the industrial landscape of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury has said. He said they are building  a separate SME zone at Bangabandhu Shilpanagar in Mirsarai to raise the contribution of the SMEs to the GDP. Paban Chowdhury was addressing as the chief guest at a webinar titled ‘Enabling Investment Climate to Realize Great Potential’ held recently. Citi, in partnership with Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI)  Bangladesh Center of Excellence (BCE), organised the webinar. The discussion focused on the diversification of investment, readiness of economic zones to facilitate such diversification of investments, and potential sectors for investment. The session was chaired by CCCI President Mahbubul Alam and moderated by N. Rajashekaran (Shekar), Citi Country Officer and Managing Director, Citibank, N.A. Bangladesh, said a media release on Monday. Also read: Bangladesh to see more economic zones: Salman Rahman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Chairman & CEO, Pran-RFL Group, Aameir Alihussain, Managing Director, BSRM Group of Companies and Miran Ali, Managing Director, Bitopi Group were among the distinguished panelists at the virtual discussion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged Swedish and Spanish investors to invest in Bangladesh’s special economic zones (SEZs) to avail of the opportunities are on offer there.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has invited Swiss investors to set up manufacturing factories in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and invest more in Bangladesh.