Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Thai envoy stresses relaxed regulations for more FDI

Independent Bangladesh
Tuesday, 04 March 2008
Staff Correspondent

The top Thai diplomat in Dhaka felt that Bangladesh should relax its rules and regulations for attracting more investment from Thailand.

‘You’ve the proper environment for foreign direct investment. To get it, the rules and regulations here need to be adjusted,’ Chalermpol Thanchitt, Thai ambassador in Dhaka, said at a conference at the National Press Club Monday.

The conference was organised on occasion of a four-day Thailand Exhibition 2008 starting at the Sheraton Hotel. Referring to the Thai industrial relocation in Vietnam and Cambodia, he said, ‘Vietnam is doing well adjusting its investment climate and get the benefit out of it.’

Addressing the function, Kazi Habib Sattar, president of the Bangladesh-Thai Chamber of Commerce, said Thai businessmen had expressed their intention to relocate their industry in Bangladesh. ‘Textile, garments and food processing Thai industries can be relocated in Bangladesh due to cheap labour available here,’ he added.

Responding to a query about Bangladesh-Thai trade gap, tilting more to Thailand, the envoy said Dhaka should consider initiating talks for striking bilateral free trade agreement. ‘We already have FTA with India and hope to make it with your country soon,’ Thanchitt added.

Touching upon the issue of potential areas of investment in Bangladesh, the ambassador said Italian-Thai, a company of the ASEAN nation company, had already expressed their wellness to build elevated express highway.

Chalermpol Thanchitt said, ‘Also Dusit Thani, a Thai chain hotel, also expressed their willingness to make their outlet in Dhaka and Chittagong. Apart form these, Thai companies are willing to involve in offshore oil and gas exploration in Bangladesh.’

On the issue of making more interaction between the people of the two countries, he said his government was negotiating to increase more air frequency between Bangladesh and Thailand.

Supaporn Wan-a-Loh, commercial counsellor of the embassy, also spoke in the press gathering.

The Thai Embassy and Thai trade centre in Dhaka organise the four-day expo with an ultimate campaign of ‘Explore the finest Thai healthcare, beauty & spa’.

In all, 43 companies having 11 categories of products, including chemicals products, construction materials and hardware and machinery, auto parts and accessories, electrical appliances, food & beverages, garments and textiles and fashion accessories, gift and decorative items, health and beauty, household and kitchenware products, leather products and footwear, textiles and garments during the exhibition, are expected to take part in the expo.

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