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In a major development, the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) - a platform comprising over 270 Chinese companies - has announced the establishment of eight dedicated branches to facilitate Chinese investment and development in Bangladesh.
Commenting on the issue, Mr Ke Changliang, the president of CEAB and country head of CCECC Bangladesh, reviewed CEAB's track record in Bangladesh and outlined the contributions made by Chinese companies to the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.
CEAB officials said that this issue was extensively discussed in a recent seminar titled "China-Bangladesh Enterprises High-quality Development Seminar: Achievements and Way Forward."
Elaborating on this move, the CEAB president said, "In Bangladesh, Chinese companies have so far constructed 12 roads and 21 bridges, totalling 550 km in length. They have also constructed 7 railway lines with a total length of 541.9 km and implemented 27 power and energy projects, whose total installed capacity accounts for more than 50 per cent of the country."
He further highlighted Chinese companies' active investment in Bangladesh, noting that in EPZs, more than 25 per cent of investors came from China.
In light of the fruitful achievements and the increasing demand for high-quality services from the Chinese business community in Bangladesh, CEAB, under the guidance of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh and local government agencies, decided to subdivide their operations into eight industrial branches.
Each branch will focus on specific sectors such as Power and Energy, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Harbour and Port, Roads and Bridges, Water and Environment, Railway and Civil Aviation, Textile and Garments, Trade and Services, he added.
"We believe that these eight specific branches of CEAB will boost investment from China, create more jobs for the local community, and contribute to the sustainable growth of Bangladesh," Mr Ke said.
Stakeholders believe that the establishment of these industrial branches by CEAB signifies a significant step towards deepening economic ties in the mentioned sectors between the two nations.
According to CEAB officials, members of the Bangladeshi business community who attended the recent Belt and Road event praised the Chinese investment and discussed potential cooperation and investment under the aforementioned eight sectors.