Welsh businesses seek partnership

A business delegation from the Wales has sought partnership for investing in Bangladesh.

On the first day of their week-long visit, the 25-member delegation of the Wales Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (WBCC) said they wanted to develop business relations.

This is the second trade mission from Wales in Bangladesh in five years.

The chamber is dominated by the Bangladesh diaspora and they are focused on transferring skills and knowledge for businesses, despite challenges like political turmoil in the country.

“Challenges will always be forthcoming in business, but as entrepreneurs we see challenges as opportunities, not obstacles,” Chairman of the Chamber Dilabor A Hussain said at a press briefing.

They met with the British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson earlier in the day and also leaders of Bangladesh’s apex business body, FBCCI.

The British High Commissioner who hails from the Wales also hosted a reception for them on Sunday evening at his residence.

He was “delighted” to see such a diverse range of Welsh companies coming to Dhaka to show the best of their business and entrepreneurship and hoped or future collaboration.

The Chamber Secretary General Mahbub Noor said funds were not a problem for Bangladesh now.

“You need skills and we can offer that (skills for different businesses),” he said.

He said both sides could work together in number of areas including hospitality, tourism, education, training and life sciences.

The delegation will meet ministers and leading government officials at the ministries of commerce and education, during their stay.

They will also visit Sylhet and Chittagong.

The UK was the second largest cumulative investor or source of foreign direct investment in Bangladesh in the 2012-2013 fiscal, according to Bangladesh Bank, with £159.5 million worth of investments in projects.

Some 100 UK firms are operating in Bangladesh mainly focused around Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet.