The New Nation - Internet Edition

Corporate Bazaar kicks off in city

ECONOMIC REPORTER

Country's premier corporate show, Corporate Bazaar, was kicked off yesterday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.

Over 40 leading organizations from different sectors are showcasing their corporate packages in this three-day long corporate show. All types of products and services necessary for running a business are being showcased under the same roof during these three days.

Aamra Networks Ltd, country's leading corporate Internet service provider, is staging the fair for the third time this year. It is an exhibition of exclusively corporate solutions arranged for the corporate visitors.

Participants in the show is covering a wide range of industries like telecommunication, IT, banks, airlines, office equipment manufacturers & distributors, advertising companies, electronics, power supply and many others.

The list of exhibitors covers both local big shots as well as multinational companies, said Syed Faruque Ahmed, Chairman of Aamra Group.

He was addressing the formal inauguration of the exclusive fair yesterday. Syed Farhad Ahmed, Managing Director of Aamra Group and Russell T Ahmed, convener of Corporate Bazaar also addressed the inauguration ceremony.

The concept of the Corporate Bazaar emerged from the need for a truly corporate market place in Bangladesh. It is a market place for products and services designed and offered exclusively to the business world: business leaders, entrepreneurs, managers, executives and those who belong to the business community and influence decision making.

"As fairs and exhibitions held in Bangladesh usually fail to offer an ambience for business decision makers to visit, the organizers aim to make sure that this is one showcase where business leaders can actually get an overview of what is on offer to them and make informed decisions," said the Chairman of Aamra group.

The corporate world of Bangladesh has a free pass to enter the exhibition. Any individual with his/her own business card will be given a free entry pass upon presenting it at the entrance, said the organiser.

Bangladesh Trade Fair held in Bahrain

A "Bangladesh Trade Fair (Autumn Fair- 2008)" was held at Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Manama in Bahrain recently. Pubali Bank Ltd. participated in the trade fair with a view to expand and promote foreign remittance business from Bangladeshi expatriates from Bahrain to Bangladesh through Pubali Bank Ltd.

Md. Saiful Islam, Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Manama, Bahrain, Habibur Rehman Jilani, Ambassador of Pakistan in Bahrain, Enayet Karim, Managing Director of Dhaka International Exhibition Company visited the Pubali Bank's stall.

Managing Director of Pubali Bank Helal Ahmed Chowdhury stressed upon the need to remit the earnings of Bangladeshis through official channels in consideration of the Anti Money Laundering Act. He underscored the facilities for remitting the earnings through Pubali Bank. He also gave assurance to expedite the remittance to the beneficiaries in Bangladesh in the quickest possible time. The delegates met the Bangladeshi expatriates and expressed the need for sending remittance through the exchange companies. They had a threadbare discussion with Bahrain India International Exchange Co. BSC, Zenj Exchange Co. WLL, Bahrain Express Exchange, Bahrain Financing Company, World Exchange Centre W.L.L, National Finance & Exchange, Nonoo Exchange Co. (S.P.), Dalil Exchange. UAE Exchange Centre, Arab Exchange Co. (Arexco) etc in channelising remittance to Bangladesh towards expansion of PBL remittance business. The exchange companies expressed their keen interest to route remittance through Pubali Bank and conclude remittance relationship with the bank taking the services and branch network of 361 branches located in the remote areas of Bangladesh into consideration. Mentionable some exchange companies of Bahrain already have arrangement with Pubali Bank Ltd. and sending remittance to Bangladesh through Pubali Bank Ltd.

General Manager of International Division of PBL Syed Md. Masum, General Manager of Foreign Exchange Branch of PBL M.A. Halim Chowdhury & DGM of International Division of PBL Md. Hasan Ali was also present in the trade fair.

IBBL training on foreign trade ends

A Closing Ceremony of 6-day long training course on "Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade" organised by Islami Bank Training & Research Academy (IBTRA) was held on 8 February. Thursday at Muhammad Younus Auditorium of Islami Bank Tower. Mominul Islam Patwary, Chairman, Executive Committe of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited was present in the function as the Chief Guest and Mohd. Shamsul Haque, Executive President (Current Charge) was present as the Special Guest. Presided over by Md. Zafar Ullah, Executive Vice President & Director General of IBTRA. The function was attended among others by Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Senior Vice President, Md. Habibur Rahman & Md. Kamal Uddin Jashim, Assistant Vice Presidents of the Bank.

Md. Habibur Rahman, Deputy Executive President & Head of International Banking Wing of the Bank inaugurated the training course on 2 February.

Mominul Islam Patwary expressed his satisfaction over the performance of the Bank. He laid emphasis upon forming skilful leadership for caring out foreign exchange business.

He focused upon the vital role of the expatriates in collecting remittance for Islami Bank. He called upon the participants to improve the clients' service and to share their sorrows and happiness. He also urged them to accelerate the role of the Bank in national advancement by making the branches more active in export, import & investment activities.

Md. Shamsul Haque in his speech as the Special Guest laid emphasis upon the achievement of expertise and the development of customer' services.

Standard Bank gives Tk 25 lakh to Army Relief Fund

Standard Bank Limited donated Tk 25 lakh to the 'Bangladesh Army Relief Fund (for Mosque-cum-Shelter Project)' as a part of its corporate social responsibility for the welfare of the people of the coastal areas.

Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed, Chairman of Standard Bank Limited, officially handed over the payment order of the donation of Tk 25 lakh to Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed.

Vice Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Limited Alhaj Mohd Shamsul Alam, Managing Director Mosharraf Hossain and Deputy Managing Director SA Farooqui were present on the occasion.

It may be mentioned here that Standard Bank Limited also donated Tk 25 lakh to the 'Bangladesh Army Relief Fund' earlier as part of its corporate social responsibility, says a press release.

Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury joins Peoples Insurance as Director

Mohammed Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury has recently joined as a member of the board of directors of Peoples Insurance Company Limited. Hossain is a prominent industrialist and a young pragmatic business leader, who graduated from North Eastern University, Boston, USA.

Dedicated to a mission to see an industrially developed nation, his business interests involve diverse sectors, including steel, glass, power, ship breaking, textile and trading.

Hossain is a Director of PHP Group, which has been playing a pioneering role in the country's industrialization. The group was first private sector exporter of flat steel to various countries and opened a massive door for Bangladesh to earn valuable foreign currency.

He is the second son of Alhaj Sufi Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, Chairman of PHP Group of Industries, a press release said.

Sonali Bank Dhaka Divisional Conference held

Sonali Bank Ltd. Dhaka Divisional Conference held at the conference room of its Head Office, Dhaka. Presided over by the Divisional General Manager Karobi Mujib, the CEO/Managing Director of the bank S. A. Chowdhury was present as chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Chowdhury advised officials of the bank to take sincere efforts right from this moment to achieve all the business goal of the year 2008.

He also put emphasis on quickest delivery of foreign remittance to their beneficiary and urged officials to forward with market-based banking.

DMD's of the bank Md. Humayun Kabir & Begum Raihana Anisa Yousuf Ali were also present on the occasion.