At a business event jointly organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on day three of her visit to India, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the leading captains of industry of the two nations to take the relationship beyond trade to derive larger gains.

The event was held at the ballroom of the ITC Maurya hotel in New Delhi, where the prime minister and her entourage were staying, on Wednesday evening (Sep. 7)

"It should include investment, finance, services, technology transfer, and be placed within the context of regional cooperation," she said. Hasina urged Indian investors to consider possible investments in infrastructure projects, manufacturing, energy and transport sectors in Bangladesh.

"Indian investors and business houses can set up industries in Bangladesh through Buy-Back arrangements by reducing time, cost and resources," she said.

In the 2021-22 fiscal, the total amount of FDI inflow to Bangladesh was $1370 million, or $1.37 billion, of which just over $15.75 million, or 1.15 percent, was from India, she noted.

"So definitely, there is real need for more collaboration between our two countries by way of involving business communities and trade bodies to find avenues towards deriving two-way trade and investment benefits," the PM said.

In this regard she mentioned that Bangladesh has the most liberal investment regime in the region, with a wide array of facilities, attractive incentive policies, and consistent reforms.

Presently, 100 Special Economic Zones and 28 Hi-Tech parks are being established aiming to encourage investment and rapid economic development through increase and diversification of industry, employment, production and export, she said.

For the Indian investors, two dedicated Special Economic Zones at Mongla and Mirersharai are being developed, the prime minister said.

"I would urge the business houses present here today to invest there. It would further pave the way to harness the goodwill of the two friendly countries, and bring economic prosperity to the region," she said.

She pointed out that Bangladesh is uniquely located to enable Indian investors to export their products to not only the northeastern states of India, but also to Nepal, Bhutan, and to Southeast Asian countries.

In the last ten years, the total bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India had an impressive growth with the balance heavily in favour of India. At present with its improved manufacturing capacity, Bangladesh is prepared to supply quality products at competitive price to the Indian market, said Hasina

"We, therefore, invite Indian importers to look at Bangladeshi products which are being imported at higher price from countries far away," said the premier. She said Bangladesh and India have the best of relations. The two countries' relationship is held up as a 'role model' in neighbourhood diplomacy.

She said the two countries, sharing 54 common rivers and an over 4000-km border, have no outstanding disputes now.

"Bangladesh is India's most important development and trading partner," she said, repeating what her Indian counterpart had said the previous day. In this context, Hasina said, India receives the highest number of tourists and medical patients from Bangladesh, while thousands of Indian nationals are working in Bangladesh, contributing to both the economies.

"Indeed, the time is ripe for the Indian business community to focus more on Bangladesh and take advantage of its economic growth, cheaper cost and huge consumer base," the PM added. She expressed her confidence that the deep bonds of friendship existing between Bangladesh and India shall continue to grow and flourish.

"As it does, the business communities of both countries should draw close and play their due role in fostering mutual prosperity and economic advancement of our peoples," Sheikh Hasina said. Thereby, she said, the two countries would be able to bring prosperity and peace in the region.

The premier said that no doubt Covid-19 pandemic has greatly affected global trade whereas war in Ukraine has caused significant rise of commodity and fuel prices worldwide.

It has severely affected the established supply chain. This has led many countries, including those of South Asia, to suffer from acute economic crisis, she said.

She said Bangladesh is today self-sufficient in food and one of the largest global producers of rice, vegetables, grains, and fresh-water fish - to name a few.

"Bangladesh, which had in the past suffered from natural calamities, is today a global example of disaster preparedness and management. It has also achieved huge socio-economic success, attained impressive growth and is thus dubbed a development miracle," Hasina said.

She mentioned that Bangladesh's economy grew throughout the last decade, crossing 7 percent in FY 2015-16, and 8 percent in FY 2018-19. Since 2009, the per capita income has almost tripled from just under $1,000 to more than $2,800 today, she said.

"Moreover, remittances in the fiscal year 2021-2022 increased to $21.03 billion. These indices reflect the strength of Bangladesh's economy," the prime minister added.

She said that Bangladesh has implemented mega projects to accelerate the growth of industries and to take full advantage of our strategic location. Coming to Padma Bridge, the country's longest bridge financed completely from its own coffers funds that opened in June, the people of 21 southern districts have been directly connected by road with the capital and other parts of the country.

"It is expected to boost the country's gross domestic product by 2-3 percent per year," claimed the PM.

In the last decade, she mentioned, several other infrastructure projects have been initiated in Bangladesh. Among these are Bangladesh's first metro rail project MRT Line-6, the Karnafuli Tunnel - the first and longest underwater road tunnel in South Asia, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Dhaka Airport Third Terminal and some other mega-projects, she cited.

"Once completed, they would contribute substantially to Bangladesh's GDP growth," said the prime minister, ruling out the possibility of any white elephants.