Bangladesh, Indonesia eye stronger trade ties, direct connectivity

CHATTOGRAM, Nov 11: Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Listyowati has called for stronger bilateral trade and investment ties with Bangladesh, highlighting a nearly 6 per cent recent increase in Indonesia's imports from Bangladesh despite the existing trade imbalance favouring Indonesia.

She made the remarks at an interactive session with business leaders organised by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at the World Trade Center in Chattogram on Wednesday.

The Ambassador said there was significant scope for strengthening commercial ties through joint ventures in halal food, energy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and industrial raw materials. Praising the quality of Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals, she also highlighted Chattogram's potential as a major economic and commercial hub.

She stressed the need to strengthen institutional links between the CCCI and Indonesian business associations, arrange reciprocal business delegations, improve maritime connectivity and logistics, and establish direct air links between the two countries. She assured that the Indonesian Embassy would support business visa facilitation and promote investment and commercial exchanges.

CCCI President Mohammad Amirul Haque said Indonesia was a key trading partner of Bangladesh, supplying coal, clinker, palm oil, energy products and industrial raw materials. Among others, Vietnam's Honorary Consul S M Abu Tayeb, Spain's Honorary Consul Mia M Abdur Rahman, Korea's Honorary Consul Mohammad Mohsin, former Chamber Director Dr Moinul Islam Mahmud, Chamber Directors Engineer Golam Sarwar, Shahidul Alam and Shawkat Ali Chowdhury, and C&F Agents Association General Secretary Shawkat Ali Chowdhury attended the session.