France keen to be part of Bangladesh development
Chief executives and representatives of different business entities, ministries and development agencies of France have applauded the impressive growth of Bangladesh and expressed their interest to be part of Bangladesh’s development journey.
They came up with the eagerness at a discussion titled, ‘Bangladesh-France Trade and Investment Relations: Prospects and Potentials’ held at MEDEF international headquarters in Paris on Tuesday, according to a press release received on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Embassy in France, in collaboration with MEDEF International, a leading network of French business enterprises, arranged the discussion.
MEDEF International director Geraldine Lemble presided over the meeting while Bangladesh Ambassador to France Kazi Imtiaz Hossain presented a keynote paper.
Chief executives and representatives from 14 companies of France and representatives from French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France Development Agency (AFD) and French Foreign Trade Advisors Business, took part in the discussion.
In her opening remarks, Geraldine Lemble said it may be mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended a business meeting with members of MEDEF International during her visit to France in December 2017.
She said French business enterprises are closely following the impressive growth and social progress of Bangladesh with great interest and like to engage more deeply in the economic development of Bangladesh.
Reading out his keynote paper, Kazi Imtiaz Hossain highlighted the steady socioeconomic progress of Bangladesh, particularly in areas of power generation, physical infrastructure development, information technology and communication, health, education and women empowerment.
Noting that Bangladesh has achieved a steady GDP growth of over 6.6 percent over the past decade, he said, this growth has been even more impressive in the last three years with 7.5 percent growth.
About the Vision 2021 and Vision 2041, the envoy said Bangladesh is on right track of achieving these visions as it has already attained the status of a low middle-income country and crossed the thresholds for graduating out of LDC category.
Terming the bilateral political and economic relations between France and Bangladesh time-tested and ever expanding, the ambassador invited French companies to explore business and investment potential in Bangladesh, take advantage of Bangladesh’s strategic location and many special investment incentives the country offered.
Referring to the recent launching of French-built Bangladesh’s first communication satellite ‘Bangabandhu-I’ into the orbit, he said the partnership between the two countries is expanding in newer areas of collaboration.
Commercial Counsellor of Bangladesh Embassy Dilara Begum and other officials were present.
