FBCCI and a Pakistani business delegation holds a meeting in Dhaka today. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Jan 22, 2025 (BSS) – The Bangladeshi importers and businessmen see big opportunities and potentials in importing dates, oranges, other fruits and agricultural products from Pakistan to meet the demand throughout the year, including during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
 
They also believe that there are huge potentials for exporting various Bangladeshi products to Pakistan.
 
For this, businessmen from both countries have called for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers between the two countries.
 
These issues came up for discussion at a meeting held between a delegation of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and a business delegation from Pakistan in the capital’s Gulshan area today.

The meeting was presided over by FBCCI Administrator Md. Hafizur Rahman. In his welcome speech, he said that there is a huge demand for dates in Bangladesh during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

 Along with this, the demand for other fruits also increases during that time, said an FBCCI press release.

Besides, there is a lot of demand for domestic and foreign fruits in the local market throughout the year.

 “Pakistan can be an affordable and easily accessible source of fruits and agricultural products for Bangladesh,” said the FBCCI Administrator. 

Stressing on boosting bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan, Md. Hafizur Rahman said that there is an opportunity to expand trade between the two countries through joint initiatives and mutual cooperation in the private sector. 

He also emphasized on the importance of completing a Bangladesh-Pakistan trade agreement.
 
Businessmen from both countries emphasized on the development of logistics, supply chain, cold storage, packaging and goods transportation systems to facilitate and expand trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan. 

The meeting was attended among others by Zain Aziz, Trade and Investment Attaché of the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, Md. Zafar Iqbal, Head of the International Affairs Department of FBCCI, FBCCI leaders, members of the Pakistani business delegation, leaders of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association and others.