BIDA chief sees new horizons in Bangladesh-China economic cooperation

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of both the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), announced today that the visit of the largest-ever Chinese business delegation to Bangladesh has opened new avenues for economic cooperation between the two nations.

“The gathering marks a significant milestone in the relationship and growing economic partnership between the two countries. It is the largest-ever Chinese business delegation to visit Bangladesh, comprising around 250 investors and business leaders representing 143 companies, including some of the largest in China,” he stated during a press conference on the outcomes of the day-long “Bangladesh-China Conference on Investment and Trade.”

The conference was jointly organized by BEZA, BIDA, the Ministry of Commerce of China, and the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus attended the opening session as the chief guest, alongside China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.

Ashik Chowdhury highlighted that the technical sessions covered key topics such as “Investment Environment and Economic Zones in Bangladesh,” “Joint Ventures in the Garment and Textile Sectors,” “Chinese Technology Transfer in the Electronics and Machinery Industry,” and “Investment Opportunities in Agriculture and Food Processing Industries.”

He noted that approximately 550 business representatives from both China and Bangladesh participated in the discussions, with Chinese business leaders expressing keen interest in investing across various sectors in Bangladesh. Over 100 bilateral discussions were held during the B2B and B2G sessions of the conference, allowing entrepreneurs from both countries to exchange views on potential joint projects.

A significant outcome of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BEZA and Power China International Group Limited. This MoU aims to establish a Chinese Agrivoltaics Economic Zone in Matlab Uttar Upazila of Chandpur district.