Written by The Banking Post
The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has urged China to extend greater support in enhancing the skills, capacity and technological advancement of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to help them stay competitive in global trade.
The call came during a bilateral trade discussion between DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka on Monday, according to a press release.
Taskeen noted that bilateral trade between Bangladesh and China reached $17.35 billion in FY2024, with imports standing at $16.64 billion against exports of $715.38 million. He stressed that sustaining socio-economic progress and leveraging the benefits of LDC graduation will largely depend on deeper economic cooperation with China.
Highlighting China as Bangladesh’s largest import partner, Taskeen sought Chinese collaboration in agriculture, ICT, renewable energy, automobile, light engineering, logistics, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and shipbuilding.
Ambassador Yao Wen said over 20 new Chinese companies in RMG and textiles have pledged nearly $800 million in investment since last year, while Chinese entrepreneurs are also eyeing Bangladesh’s electric vehicle sector. However, he pointed to high tariffs and inadequate policy support as barriers.
Yao urged Bangladesh to diversify its export basket beyond RMG, which still accounts for 85 percent of exports, and to prioritise technology-driven sectors. He encouraged closer cooperation with China to strengthen Bangladesh’s production capacity and competitiveness.
