UK businessmen keen on perfume, shipbuilding in BANGLADESH

A visiting business delegation from the United Kingdom yesterday said it wanted to explore trade and investment in perfume distribution, property development and shipbuilding. "We are here to explore the possibilities of doing business," said Shahagir Bakth Faruk, chairman of British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (BBCC), at a press conference. UK Trade and Investment in cooperation with BBCC arranged the visit. The delegation, comprising representatives from perfume makers, restaurants and catering, property developers, legal service providers and shipbuilding, is expected to meet policy makers and business leaders in a bid to forge business collaborations between the two countries. "We want to showcase British products in Bangladesh. We believe companies doing business in the UK should explore potential abroad for market expansion," said Faruk at Dhaka Regency Hotel. He said Bangladesh is now moving forward with a section of people attaining the capacity to spend on upmarket products like perfumes and the traditional British fish and chips. "The change now taking place in Bangladesh is actually phenomenal," he said. Rafiqul Islam, chairman of Maritimus Ltd, a shipbuilding company, said it is setting up a shipbuilding yard in Narayanganj to tap the global demand for small ocean-going vessels. He said the company selected Bangladesh for shipbuilding by considering the cheap labour costs. "We hope it will be ready by next year. We are also going to have a marine academy here."