While addressing a delegation of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Commonwealth countries should strengthen business relations among themselves for their socioeconomic development. Apart from the Commonwealth countries, she also put emphasis on building up strong business relations with non-Commonwealth countries, especially oil rich Middle East countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The 1st CWEIC will be held in Dhaka on September 13-14 to foster partnerships, promote innovation, and explore avenues for sustainable and inclusive economic development for Bangladesh. This is the first Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum to be organised in Bangladesh. CWEIC will organise the forum to boost trade, commerce and investment among the Commonwealth countries.
Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 countries united by common values and is a home to one-third of the world’s population. Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth as its 34th Member in 1972.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, right after the independence of the country, joined the Commonwealth with the vision of gaining mutual cooperation from the member states. When Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth, the country was in its infant stage – struggling with a war-torn economy and a ravaged infrastructure in the aftermath of the Liberation War. Over time, Bangladesh attained tremendous development on its economic fronts. Under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is graduating into a middle-income country in 2026.
Our business bodies will get an
opportunity to get connected
with the private sector of the
Commonwealth countries
This achievement became possible with the immense hard work of the nation, along with support from its development partners like the Commonwealth members.
Some of the largest trade partners of Bangladesh are Commonwealth members. This forum could be a great opportunity to increase trade and investment for Bangladesh.
Business people from many Commonwealth countries will participate in the forum. Bangladesh can also present its investment potential to them.
We hope this forum will tap the potential for Bangladesh to leverage diverse market access opportunities for its products and services within the Commonwealth.
The businesses around the world are still not well-aware of Bangladesh’s rapid transformation that took place in the recent years and also about the tremendous opportunities that the “New Bangladesh” offers.
Our business bodies will get an opportunity to get connected with the private sector of the Commonwealth countries to promote the government’s “Branding Bangladesh” initiative. We believe CWEIC will also assist Bangladesh to enter the mainstream market of its major and highly potential trade partners including the UK, Canada and Australia as well as highlight Bangladesh's remarkable development accomplishments and innumerable potentials among its member states.
