Noor Mohammed, Bureau Chief (Qatar):
As a chief guest, Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, MP attended a seminar titled “Foreign Direct Investment Opportunities in Bangladesh” during his stopover in Doha en route to New York to attend 73th UN general assembly session. The seminar was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha, Qatar yesterday and arranged by Bangladesh Forum Qatar (BFQ) in collaboration with Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). Head of Business of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Thani, Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Yousuf Al Jaida, Executive president of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Kazi M. Aminul Islam and other key members of QFC, QIA and BFQ along with significant numbers of Qatari investors, entrepreneurs, and businessmen were present in the seminar. Scores of foreign diplomats posted in Qatar, local dignitaries, senior public and private sector officials, individuals from Banking and financial sectors, members from media and noted community leaders were present.
The informatory presentation and speeches highlighted the consciousness of Bangladesh; been a moderate, secular and liberal democracy with immense potentials. Yet, it has earned a global reputation in poverty alleviation, primary school enrollment, women empowerment, family planning, infant, under-five mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio reduction, lowering the number of communicable diseases and child immunization.
HE Md. Shahriar Alam reiterated in his keynote speech that Bangladesh is no more a bottomless basket once told by an American diplomat but a hollow of opportunities under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bongobondu Sheikh Mujibur Rahma. Bangladesh is in the process of a transition from a predominantly agrarian economy to an industrial and service economy. The private sector is playing an increasingly active role in the economic life of the country, he added.
State Minister thanked BFQ for organizing the investment seminar which he called as ‘crucial and timely’ engagement from the Bangladeshi community in Qatar. He thanked Bangladesh Embassy for facilitating the seminar. He hoped that BFQ would act more to enhance and promote Bangladesh as the investment destination for investors from Qatar and elsewhere. He assured to extend the hands of cooperation by Bangladesh government in such areas.
Qatari investors have shown their keen interest in Bangladesh and a Qatari delegation soon will visit Bangladesh to witness the investment canton, sphere & groundwork. Formation of a Bangladesh-Qatar Investment Forum to discover and identify areas of investment was proposed. The signing of an MOU between the Qatar Investment Authority and BIDA opted in this regard.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Ashud Ahmed highlighted the contributions of Bangladeshi workforce in Qatar in various sectors and echoed that growing Bangladeshi community in Qatar is ready to serve in the years to come. Qatar and Bangladesh are enjoying highest pick of relationship as brotherly nations, he added. Qatar to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Bangladeshi migrant workers are already playing their roles in preparation to host the mega event, he narrated.