BSS, DHAKA
A high-powered Danish business delegation will arrive here tomorrowon a four-day visit to Bangladesh to tap investment opportunities in the country, which needs multi-billion dollars in capital for energy and power generation.
Officials at the Denmark Embassy earlier told the news agency that the delegation, led by Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Soren Pind, would primarily seek to establish long term business relations, even joint ventures with Bangladeshi companies involved in energy and clean technology.
The Danish companies, to be represented in the trade delegation, are active in conventional energy, renewable energy and waste and water management.
In a note of welcome prior to the visit, the Ambassador of Denmark in Dhaka, Einar H Jensen, said, “The creation of long term strategic partnerships will, without a doubt give value to both Bangladesh and Denmark.”
In response to Bangladesh’s effort to draw foreign investment in the energy and power sector, he said: “The Embassy of Denmark has invited Danish companies active in energy and green technology to visit Bangladesh to assess and explore opportunities for investments and business operation in Bangladesh.”
In Bangladesh, Jensen said, energy consumption has outrun the production thanks to higher rate of economic growth, averaging six per cent per year.
The focus of the delegation is energy and green technology, Jensen said, adding the current energy situation and the environmental sustainability in production might be the “two single largest challenges to the future growth and well-being of the country.”
The forthcoming business tour by Danish companies, second in a few months, is seen significant in view of the post-Copenhagen Summit on climate change where Bangladesh took the centre stage for its vulnerability to a shifting climate.
After its arrival in the capital, the delegation is scheduled to have discussions on finance opportunities and meet officials and visit existing energy and waste water treatment projects.
On April 11, the delegation members have scheduled meeting with Bangladeshi counterparts in a day-long match-making event, hosted by the Denmark Embassy, at a city hotel.
Commerce minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, energy adviser to the prime minister Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, president of Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry AM Hamim Rahmatullah, Danish development minister Soren Pind and commercial counsellor at the embassy Morten Siem Lynge are expected to address the meeting.
On the following day, the delegation will fly to Chittagong where it would visit Danish-funded projects-Sea Resources and Fishers Shipyard and Coldplay. The delegation will also visit KAFCO and Western Marine Shipyard where a number of ships are being built for a Danish buyer. In Dhaka, the delegation will attend a high-profile energy seminar, organised by Bangladesh chapter of Paris- based International Chamber of Commerce.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the visiting Danish Development Minister are expected to open the seminar, followed by plenary sessions.
source:http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=168998
No comments:
Post a Comment