UAE wants to expand business in Bangladesh, its minister tells Hasina

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) wants to expand its business in Bangladesh, especially investment in various sectors like energy, port and industrial zone, in a newer way, said its Economic Minister Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori on Sunday.

The UAE minister expressed his country's interest when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with a 15- member business delegation comprising of front-ranking executives of various business houses at her hotel.

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque briefed reporters after the meeting. PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammad Imran were present.

The Prime Minister invited them to come to and invest in Bangladesh in a bigger way.

The UAE minister proposed forming a joint business forum to focus on investment opportunities, potential and markets in Bangladesh.

The Foreign Secretary said there is a joint commission between Bangladesh and the UAE, but there is no joint economic commission.

About this, UNB reports, he said Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammad Imran earlier sent a proposal to form a joint economic commission, and, in reply, they said that if the joint economic commission is formed, there will be discussions on the issue on a regular basis.

The UAE economic minister put emphasis on organising business forums in various cities in the UAE. "He put importance on new type of economic partnership," Shahidul Haque added.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmad, PM’s Principal Secretary Nojibur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, PMs’ Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Rownaq Jahan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammad Imran were present during the meeting.