‘Services sector can be an emerging area for attracting British investment’

The service sector can be an emerging area for attracting British investment, speakers said at a virtual dialogue today.

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) organised the programme styled "Bangladesh-UK trade and investment cooperation: services sector perspective".

DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said the British government can ensure a liberal tariff and trading ecosystem to support investment in the wide-ranging services sector in the new normal era.

He also requested the UK to retain the generalized system of preferences (GSP) facility for export growth in post-Brexit time until both countries agree for free trade agreement (FTA) to deepen economic fraternity.

Addressing the programme as chief guest, British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said his country is the second-largest investor in Bangladesh and the country's IT market would be an interesting market for the UK.

He said service sectors like finance, healthcare, education and technology would be some emerging sectors where the future lies.

Dickson further suggested addressing the issues to improve the ease of doing business index to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI).

Concerted efforts both from the government and private sector will boost bilateral trade opportunities, he mentioned.

The UK ambassador also said that worldwide there is a big demand for IT graduates. At present more than 40 offshore development centres have started working in Bangladesh, he mentioned. 

Sonia Bashir Kabir, founder and managing director of SBK Tech Ventures said venture capitals can look into Bangladesh where India raised 20 billion venture capital funding. Bangladeshi startups are very good and need investors.

Syed Almas Kabir, president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), Adnan Iman, co-founder and managing director of Genex Infosys Limited, Asad-Ur-Rahman Nile, country director of Bangladesh Simprints Technology Limited, Faqueer Tanvir Ahmed, managing director of MF Asia Limited and Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, managing director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority also spoke at the event.