UK keen to expand trade with Bangladesh: Rushanara

Rushanara Ali MP, UK prime minister’s trade envoy for Bangladesh, today said Britain is keen to expand trade with Bangladesh, offering world class expertise and technology that will help the country move closer to its middle-income aspiration.

She said, “I am delighted to be back in Bangladesh and I’m very much looking forward to work to strengthen and deepen our trading relationships,” the UK envoy made the comments on her arrival in Dhaka.

A trade delegation of nine UK rail companies lead by Rushanara began tour to Bangladesh to showcase British expertise in the rail sector and underscore the importance of the UK attaches to its trade and investment partnership with Bangladesh , a British High Commission press release said.

The companies accompanying the trade envoy on her second visit to Bangladesh in less than a year are specialists in the full spectrum of the rail supply chain from consultancy, systems design, rolling stock, and operations.

During the visit, the British envoy is scheduled to visit the Dhaka Metro rail site and attend a special British-Bangladesh rail collaboration seminar.

She will also meet the Bangladesh Ministers of Commerce, Communication, Railways and Finance and State Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss future trade possibilities.

Rushanara Ali will also travel to Sylhet, the district her family comes from, to visit the actual and potential areas of British investment.

She will also see first-hand some of the UKAID supported programmes to help Bangladesh’s development.

Expressing optimism about the second visit of the UK Trade Envoy, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Alison Blake said, “I am delighted that Rushanara Ali is leading a delegation of UK rail specialists. The mission is a demonstration of UK companies’ willingness to learn more about the opportunities in Bangladesh and seek partnerships for the benefit of both our countries. Given the strong friendship and close ties between the UK and Bangladesh, I am confident that Rushanara Ali’s visit will open up new avenues for trade.”

Ali will conclude her official visit to Bangladesh on September 21.

Source: BSS