DCCI urges UAE entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Taskeen Ahmed today (25 February) urged the entrepreneurs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to invest more in Bangladesh's different sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, information technology, tourism and healthcare.

"Being one of the largest trade organisations in Bangladesh representing the SME sector, DCCI has been working for more than last six decades to develop a favourable business environment for local and
foreign trade and investment," he said while speaking at a business forum on "Strengthening economic ties between Abu Dhabi and Bangladesh" held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The DCCI president mentioned that in 2024, Bangladesh's import from the UAE was amounted $1, 352.9 million and the export to UAE was $402.63 million, said a press release.

"The UAE entrepreneurs have already invested $321.67 million in Bangladesh in various sectors," he added.

Abu Dhabi Chamber in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) organised the business forum on "strengthening economic ties between Abu Dhabi and Bangladesh" at the conference room of Abu Dhabi School of Management.

The members of the visiting business delegation of DCCI led by its President Taskeen Ahmed participated in the business forum.

Taskeen Ahmed is leading a 29-members business delegation to UAE to explore new business opportunities.

Shamis Ali Al Dhaheri, second vice chairman and managing director of Abu Dhabi Chamber, said the UAE has shown successes in expanding its investment as well as attracting foreign investment through the
development of skilled human resources.

At the same time, Bangladesh should also focus on its large pool of young generation to make them skilled enough so that foreign investors can get confidence to invest in Bangladesh utilising this young and energetic demographic dividend, he added.

He also assured of UAE's all possible support and cooperation for the skill development of Bangladeshi human resources.

Omar Al Hosani, head of Investor Engagement, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) presented the keynote paper on Abu Dhabi's trade and investment potential.

On the other hand, Rizwan Rahman, former president of Dhaka Chamber, presented another presentation on trade and investment potential of Bangladesh.

Omar Al Hosani said the UAE is focusing towards the manufacturing, export and creating a knowledge-based economic ecosystem there.

He said the government of UAE is providing 100% ownership and duty-free facilities to the foreign investors in their investments and by exploiting the investment eco-system there, Bangladeshi investors
can come forward to invest in the UAE.

Rizwan Rahman said despite there is a lot of potential for enhancing bilateral trade and investment, it has not yet reached the desired level, adding that he also said that more engagements among
the entrepreneurs of the two countries is necessary to expand trade and investment.

He later invited the entrepreneurs of Abu Dhabi to invest in Bangladesh's infrastructure, logistics, land port, sea port service development and sustainable energy sector.

At the end of the business forum, a B2B networking session was held in presence of the representatives of about 35 companies of Abu Dhabi Chamber, where the businessmen of the two countries participated in a detailed discussion on the trade and investment possibilities between
themselves.

DCCI's Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury, Vice President Md Salem Sulaiman and members of the business delegation were also present during the meeting.