Bangladesh PM goes all out to woo Singapore firms, even offers land
PM Sheikh Hasina pledges generous size of land to companies here in return for investments
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday went all out in her bid to woo Singapore companies to her fast-growing country, offering as draws its booming economy, competitive workforce and liberal investment regime.
She even made a generous pledge of land, a move that drew applause from the more than 200 participants at the inaugural Bangladesh-Singapore Business Forum.
"We can give you 500 acres (202ha) of land, or more than that, whatever you want... If you want, we can give you," she said.
Madam Hasina, who after her speech hosted a roundtable with Singapore companies to discuss potential partnerships, later told The Straits Times in an exclusive interview that "some people have said... they cannot get the land, so I said, 'Let me ensure this, because we need more investment.'"
During the forum held at the Shangri-La Hotel, she noted that as Bangladesh presses on with the next stage of its development, it has opened up plenty of benefits for investors.
These include access to newly expanding industries, a large, young and easily trainable workforce with competitive wages, and an investment regime that includes the protection of foreign investment by law and generous tax holidays.
"From a humble subsistence and agriculture-based economy, Bangladesh is shifting towards a modern, resilient and diversified economy," said Madam Hasina.
Bangladesh, which has achieved strong average gross domestic product growth of 6.3 per cent a year over the past decade, hopes this year to shed its status as a least developed country, and by 2030 expects half its population to become urbanised consumers.
It is also establishing 100 special economic zones to spur investment and developing high-tech parks for information technology industries with foreign investment.
UPDATE
Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Lim Hng Kiang said at the forum that Bangladesh and Singapore hope to update their 1979 double taxation agreement to support evolving business needs.
He also urged Bangladesh companies to use Singapore as a launchpad into the rest of South-east Asia.
Speakers, including Singapore Business Federation chairman Teo Siong Seng, noted that Singapore companies can reap benefits from Bangladesh's rapid industrialisation and growing market if they seize opportunities in booming sectors such as IT, manufacturing and infrastructure.
Agreements to deepen business and technological cooperation were also signed at the forum.
A key pact formalises the partnership between IE Singapore and the Bangladesh Investment Development Agency, which have worked together since last year to boost business collaboration and make it easier for Singapore companies to enter Bangladesh.
Earlier in the day, Madam Hasina visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where an orchid hybrid was named Dendrobium Sheikh Hasina in her honour, as is custom for visiting dignitaries.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
