British Business Group re-launched in Bangladesh as trust

The British Business Group (BBG) in Bangladesh has been re-launched as a trust to improve the business environment for the UK companies operating in the country.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 9 April 2018, 06:24 PM
Updated : 9 April 2018, 06:24 PM

The British High Commission on Monday said it was formally re-launched at the residence of High Commissioner Alison Blake on Sunday evening where the new seven members’ Board of Trustees was introduced to the government and business stakeholders.

Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Kazi M. Aminul Islam was also present.

Francois de Maricourt, Chief Executive Officer of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Bangladesh, is the new chairman of the Board.

The others in the Board of Trustees are: Shwapna Bhowmik, Country Manager of Marks & Spencer; Imran Ahmed, Chief Executive of Duncan Brothers (BD) Limited; I A Khan OBE, Managing Director of Medway Consulting Services (UK) Limited; Syed Nuruddin Ahmed, Managing Director of Maxwell Stamp Limited; Syed Ferdous Anam, Director of Property Care Services; and Selim Chowdhury, Managing Director of G4S Secure Solution Pvt. Limited.

The high commission said BBG’s primary focus would be striving to improve the business environment for British companies that operate in Bangladesh.

To this end, the BBG will organise and support networking sessions and promote the sharing of knowledge and best practice between government and the private sector.

Its members will interact in areas of mutual interest and be a bridge for greater UK-Bangladesh collaboration on the commercial stage.

Since its inception in 2005, the BBG has been a partner and supported by the British High Commission Dhaka.

In May 2017, the BBG was formally registered as a Trust.

It now has a full-time Secretariat and operates independently but in close cooperation with the high commissioner and the High Commission Dhaka team.

Nearly 40 prominent British organisations from key industries are already members of the BBG.

The UK is the second largest foreign investor in Bangladesh. Over 250 British companies are operating in sectors including retail, banking, energy, infrastructure and education.

The UK is also the third single largest destination for exports from Bangladesh.

Expressing optimism about the newly launched business organisation, High Commissioner Blake said for over 13 years the BBG had been a “strong partner in Bangladesh for the British government and a responsible and respected voice within the business community.”

“In its new form and under the leadership of Mr Francois’ de Maricourt, I am certain that it will go from strength to strength as a partner as we work together to strengthen the UK-Bangladesh trade and investment relationship and demonstrate the contribution made by British companies and expertise to the Bangladesh economy.”