Dhaka, Jun 10 (bdnews24.com)—Bangladesh-German Chamber Commerce and Industry (BGCCI) on Sunday bade farewell to outgoing German Ambassador Holger Michael who they say helped flourish bilateral trade in the last three years.
"He was officially the German Ambassador but unofficially he worked like a Bangladeshi," Saiful Islam, chief advisor to BGCCI, told bdnews24.com during the farewell lunch.
Michael took charges in Dhaka in September 2009 when Islam was the president of the chamber and runs him term this month.
The bilateral trade between the two countries was $ 2.7 billion in 2009 but it soared to $ 4.4 billion in 2011.
"It is because of our government's policy and German ambassador's support," Islam said.
Programmes on exchange of politicians as well as businesspeople helped achieve the growth, according to Islam.
Incumbent President Abu Sakhawat said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened a business showcase in Berlin last year while the German President visited Bangladesh.
"There were many (German) politicians who had been in Bangladesh during the last three years while our leaders also visited Germany," he said, adding the German Foreign Minister is expected in Dhaka on Jun 23.
German envoy Michael had words of appreciation for Bangladesh as he said despite hindrances 'people are going on.'
He said Bangladesh came into the focus of German politics as 'diplomacy and business worked together'.
The Ambassador said he was impressed by the 'cultural, dynamic, and charismatic people in the civil society, business and media'. But he will take with him bad memories of 'stupid' traffic that used to keep him 'waiting hours and hours' on the streets.
He said Bangladesh had full potentials to develop further with its businesses. "You (Bangladesh) can get profit from inter-regional trade and investment," he said pointing at cross-frontier economic activities particularly with India.
Bangladesh exports readymade garment, leather, tea, shoe, bags and ships while it imports mainly equipment and machineries from Germany.
Replying a question, the Ambassador said his successor was yet to be decided.
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