Chinese businessmen urged to invest in Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has surged the Chinese businessmen urged to invest in Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser made the call at a meeting with Chinese businessmen on Friday. 

Bangladesh has secured a commitment of $2.1 billion in Chinese investments, loans and grants from the Chinese government and its companies, he said.

Bangladeshi officials and Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Yao Wen said nearly 30 Chinese companies have pledged to invest one billion dollars in the exclusive Chinese Industrial Economic Zone after the Chief Adviser urged private enterprises to invest in the manufacturing sector in Bangladesh.

China has also planned to lend some $400 million in the Mongla port modernisation project, some $350 million in the development of the China Industrial Economic Zone and another $150 million as technical assistance. The rest of the amount would come as grants and other forms of lending.

"It is a milestone visit," Chinese envoy Yao Wen said, referring to the Chief Adviser's four-day-long first bilateral tour to China.

During the bilateral meeting, Prof Yunus has requested President Xi Jinping to give his "green signal" to Chinese private companies to invest in Bangladesh.