PM Hasina Visit – Bangladesh Business Buzz

Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister and Lee Hsien Loong. (Photo: Betty Chua / Singapore Ministry of Communications & Information)

SINGAPORE received an official three-day visit by Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister of the Republic of Bangladesh on 12 March 2018 at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. She was received at the Istana by Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob, and was later hosted to a lunch by PM Lee (to read the PM Lee’s Toast at the Istana Official Lunch click here).. According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ statement, “Both Prime Ministers exchanged views on ways to further bilateral economic cooperation, and exchanged perspectives on regional developments. They also witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between Singapore and Bangladesh in the areas of the expansion of air services, as well as the promotion of investments through public-private partnerships.”

During her visit, PM Hasina also paid a call on PSA International and went to the Singapore Botanic Gardens where an orchid was named in her honour.
She also officiated at the inaugural Bangladesh-Singapore Business Forum organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), IE Singapore, the Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore, and the Bangladesh Business Chamber of Singapore on 13th March 2018. She witnessed the signing of several agreements to facilitate business and investment flows. Four MOUs were signed at the Forum:
– MOU between IE Singapore and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)
– MOU between eGL ISS NUS and ICT Division of the Government of Bangladesh
– MOU between Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI)
– MOU between SMF and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)

The Bangladeshi Prime Minister also interacted with Singaporean companies at a roundtable event at the event. According to the SBF, Bangladesh in recent years have experienced strong GDP growth of 6-7% and its government has stepped up their efforts in attracting foreign businesses and investments by establishing the 100 Special Economic Zones(SEZs) in the country. To read the the Forum’s opening remark by SBF Chairman Mr SS Teo click here.

Prime Minister Hasina’s visit to Singapore comes prior to the 47th Bangladesh Independence and National Day celebrations which was held on 26th March 2018 in Singapore.