06 January, 2015
C. No. 107/Resume No. 35/2014-15
To: Members of the Committee
All Members
Re: Proceedings of the Meeting
Dear Sir,
Mr. Md. Moniruzzaman Moni, President, Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Bangladesh along
with 6 members from his Chamber visited MCCI and had an interaction with our members on 03 January
2015.
Brief proceedings of the Session is enclosed for your kind perusal.
Thanking you,
Encl: Attached below
Yours faithfully,
Sukanya Basu
(Assistant Secretary)
Brief Proceedings of the Meeting with members of Rajshahi Chamber of
Commerce & Industry, Bangladesh on 03 January 2015 at Chamber
Mr. Md. Moniruzzaman Moni, President, Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce &
Industry, Bangladesh (RCCI) along with 6 members from his Chamber visited MCCI
and had interaction with our members on 03 January 2015. Mr.Md. Farid Uddin,
Director, Farid Agro Fisheries Ltd., Dr. Md. Faisal Kabir Choudhury, MD, Kaisar
Memorial Hospital, Mr. S.M.Ehasan and Mr. Masudur Rahman, Director, RCCI, Md.
Abdul Awal Chumu, Builder and Md. Shahadat Hossain, Proprietor were present at
the session.
Initiating the Dialogue, Mr. Moniruzzaman Moni, presented a short profile
of the Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and introduced the members of his Chamber
who had come with the business delegation. He thanked Indian government for the
cooperation extended to them for their Liberation in 1971.
While speaking about Rajshahi, he highlighted on some of the strengths of
the State that makes it attractive to Indian investors :
 Rajshahi has the geographical proximity with West Bengal
 It is known as the ‘Food Store’ of Bangladesh as it is the highest crop
producing region in Bangladesh
 It is the highest Mango producing state in Bangladesh. Potato, tomato, lichi
are also produced in abundance in Rajshahi.
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It is the ‘Education City’ of Bangladesh
Availability of cheap labour and land in Rajshahi
Availability of raw leather is abundant in Bangladesh
Rajshahi is the only state in Bangladesh which has the permission to set up
gas-based industry
The city has direct communication with Mongla Sea Port by road and rail
Rajshahi is also known as the ‘Silk City’ of Bangladesh
There are 5 jute mills operated by private companies in this region which
supply around 80-100 p.c. of the jute products exported to India
For setting up the International airport in Rajshahi, proposal has already
been submitted to the govt
Mr. Moni pointed out different areas like garment sector, composite textile
and garment textile sector, leather goods, IT sector, Food processing unit (Mango,
Potato, Tomato, Lichi etc.), automobiles units like motor cycle and car industry
where West Bengal and Rajshahi could possibly work together for mutual benefits.
He viewed that development of IT and heathcare sector would be promising area in
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Rajshahi where Indian companies can share their expertise. In this regard he
also mentioned that IT University could be set up in Rajshahi.
He also suggested that there are plenty of opportunities for Indian
companies to venture in the production of ethanol/methanol from sugar molasses of
sugar cane, corn flakes, cornflour, corn starch in Rajshahi. Indian companies can
also invest in the packaging sector in Rajshahi. In this regard, MCCI agreed to send
the names of the member companies to them who are engaged in packaging industry.
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A representative from JIS Group expressed the desire to set up a skill
development unit in Rajshahi and invited MCCI for its assistance in this
regard. To discuss this, MCCI fixed up a meeting between the Chairman of
JIS Group and President of Rajshahi Chamber on 6 January 2015 at the
office of JIS.
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Century Plyboard Ltd. enquired about the scope of timber plantation in
Rajshahi so that they can set up a unit there.
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Rupa & Company proposed to set up a manufacturing unit in Bangladesh but
suggested to reduce the import duty on cotton yarn to 10 p.c. from present
40 p.c. for manufacturing of inner wear and casual wear garments in
Bangladesh. Mr. Moni, President, RCCI suggested the Company to import raw
cotton and produce yarn in Bangladesh as there is good opportunity for
production of cotton yarn in Rajshahi.
The Chamber suggested extending the Multiple entry Visa for minimum 5
years for Indians who wish to travel to Bangladesh. Chamber also suggested to clear
the consignment of perishable export goods which are often been trapped on Friday
which is a holiday in Bangladesh.
Mr. Moni thanked our Chamber for a very fruitful discussion and said that
he was looking forward to greater co-operation between the two countries
particularly with West Bengal in the near future. He acknowledged MCCI as the
Friendship Chamber of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Bangladesh.
The meeting ended with mutual thanksgiving.
Sukanya Basu
(Assistant Secretary)