May 12, 2011

 

Bangladesh hopes for Danish FDI in agricultural industry

 

 

Bangladesh hopes that there will be more Danish investment in the local agricultural, fisheries and livestock sectors, according to Bangladeshi Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury on Monday (May 9).

 

"Since independence of Bangladesh, the Danish government has supported various sectors especially agriculture through different projects and programmes, which is considered as extremely valuable for our economy," she said.

 

Matia was speaking as a chief guest at the inauguration of the Nordic agriculture delegations matchmaking event held at a city hotel in the afternoon.

 

Executive director of international non-government organisation, Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee (BRAC), Dr Mahabub Hossain, and president of Nordic Chamber of Commerce & Industry-Bangladesh, Arild Klokkerhaug, spoke as special guests at the function, chaired by Bangladesh Agro Processors Association president Anjan Chowdhury.

 

Danish ambassador to Bangladesh Svend Olling gave the welcome address while Charge d'Affairs of Royal Norwegian Embassy Kyrre Elvenes Braekhus offered the vote of thanks.

 

Mentioning the limited domestic resources, Matia said Bangladesh is trying to attract investment.

 

"I believe that ongoing Danida B-2-B programme and the Norwegian business match-making programme will help to create new opportunities in our economy."

 

She welcomed the Nordic agriculture delegation to contribute the economic and social development of Bangladesh by introducing Danish and Norwegian technology through public-private partnership.

 

The agriculture minister also urged the delegation to identify the areas of opportunities mutually beneficial for Bangladesh as well as Norway and Denmark.

 

"Accordingly, we should take initiatives for further moves to advance further."
 

Danish ambassador Svend Olling stressed that more should be done especially within the areas of agriculture and fishery as Bangladesh is growing from 160 million people to 225 million people from now to 2050.

 

That is where the private sector should come forward side by side with the government to ensure the presence of food security for the entire nation so it is time to create an international market image, he said.

 

Brac executive director Dr Mahabub Hossain said that there is a need to create demand and access of agricultural products abroad as the domestic market is getting saturated.

 

The Nordic delegation comprising representatives of 10 Danish and three Norwegian companies is visiting Bangladesh looking for local partners within agriculture food processing and fisheries sector. The delegation will stay till May 12 and meet different local companies.

 

The delegation will explore possibilities for setting up long-term cooperation or joint venture where Danish/Norwegian know-how and investments will be combined with local knowledge and manpower skills.

 

More than 110 meetings had been set up with around 50 Bangladeshi entrepreneurs. The meetings will take place in Dhaka, Mymensigh, Khulna and Chittagong over the next few days.