The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Visiting Iranian business delegation called for setting up of a joint research and information centre, to reduce information gap and to enhance trade collaboration between the two friendly countries.

"Iran-Bangladesh trade relation have a great potential but set behind the expectation due to lack of adequate information," said the leader of the Iran business delegation Gholamhosein Shaferi.

"As both the countries have opened up all possible ways to strengthen existing trade relations, they should establish a joint research and information centre to ensure frequent flow of information among both the parties," he said while addressing a meeting with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries, yesterday.

According to him, major drawback to boost bilateral trade relation between the two countries is inadequate information availability to all concerned. "Availability of information's could be vital to review our trade relationship," he said.

Addressing the DCCI meeting, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Dhaka Hasan Farazandeh urged Bangladeshi business leaders to take advantage of Iran's natural resources and its strategic superiorities.

"Iran offers a great potential for Bangladeshi investors to utilise its natural resources, including the petroleum and landscape. It has developed investment friendly infrastructures up to the European standard. It could enhance your business a lot," said the Iran envoy to Dhaka.

He also suggested Bangladeshi businessmen to exploit Iran's strategic advantage as gateway to enter Europe and Middle Eastern markets.

Chairing the meeting with the Iran business delegation, President DCCI Hossain Khalid proposed Iranian business collaboration with locals as joint venture in various sectors, keeping the low trade volume in mind.

"Despite our long cultural and conceptual closeness, our export to Iran remained only US50.18 million dollar and Import from Iran at US29.48 million dollar in 2006-07," he said.

He proposed to hold extensive business talks in the sector of cement, textile, steel, food products, jute products, ceramics manufacturing among the to parties.

"Prospective can only be fruitful, if proper utilization takes place. It requires discussion over how we can improve our trade relation," he added.

The 14-member Iran business delegation has visited some major sites, inspected infrastructures and held meeting with local business leaders since last couple of days, as informed.