Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F. Rahman called for re-introduction of direct flight services to increase bilateral trade and expand tourism sector between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan.
He made this call while a delegation led by Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhrom Aloev met at his office in Gulshan on Friday, May 19 in the afternoon.
During the meeting, Salman F. Rahman told Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister that if Bangladesh-Uzbekistan direct flights are opened and visas are simplified, the businessmen of the two countries will be able to visit and find investment areas. Thus, Government-to-Government as well as Business-to-Business communication will increase. At the same time, emphasis was placed on strengthening bilateral relations by finding potential areas for overall benefits including trade between the two countries.
Bangladesh is exporting medicines to more than 152 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Australia and there is a huge opportunity for cooperation between the two countries in the field of pharmaceutical products and technology transfer, Salman F. Rahman also mentioned.
Referring to Uzbekistan as an important friend and growth partner, Salman F. Rahman said, ‘Trade and economic cooperation is the main focus of Dhaka-Tashkent relations. The country has opportunities for cooperation in various sectors including textiles, pharmaceuticals and information technology. Uzbekistan can be a big market for ready-made garments, medicines, ICT products. The introduction of direct flights between the two countries will boost bilateral trade.
Salman F. Rahman said, ‘Both countries have a lot of potential to develop business and tourism sector. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has built 100 economic zones and hi-tech parks in the country and announced attractive incentive packages and facilities for foreign investors. Therefore, investors in Uzbekistan can use this opportunity to invest in 100 special economic zones and hi-tech parks in the country.
In order to expand trade, direct cargo flights between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh will be launched, and Bangladeshis will be given visa facilities under easy conditions,” said the Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhrom Alayev, who is visiting Bangladesh.
During the meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister praised the development of Bangladesh and said, ‘Bangladesh has achieved success in all indicators under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Pharmaceutical products are well known in the world. Therefore, calling upon the businessmen of Bangladesh to invest in Uzbekistan, he expressed his confidence to take the relationship between the two countries to a more close and strong position.
In the meeting, Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhrom Alayev said, ‘Now is the time to expand the relationship between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. Transport and communication was a concern, but we are working on it. We are ready to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries.
Uzbekistan is a Central Asian country. The landlocked country produces some of the highest quality cotton in the world. 8.5 million Bales of cotton are required annually to meet the growing demand for yarn in Bangladesh’s garment sector. On the contrary, production is only two and a quarter lakh bales. 35 thousand crores Bales of cotton has to be imported annually to meet the deficit. Which makes Bangladesh the second largest cotton importing country in the world. In this situation, Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister is visiting Bangladesh with a high-level delegation to increase trade and investment with Dhaka-Tashkent.