Philippine ambassador to Bangladesh Nina P. Cainglet today spoke at exchange meeting with investors and businessmen at World Trade Center Agrabad in Chattogram. Photo : BSS

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 19, 2025 (BSs) - Emphasizing importance on increasing economic relation besides existing bilateral one, Philippine ambassador to Bangladesh Nina P. Cainglet here today said that Bangladesh could work with Philippine in promoting eco-friendly transport and renewable energy to meet growing global demand.

The Philippine envoy told these at a views sharing meeting with the investors and businessmen at World Trade Center at Agrabad in the city on Wednesday morning.

Ambassador Nina P. Cainglet said Philippine has achieved remarkable success in different technical sectors especially in renewable energy, medical equipments and electronic vehicles.

"There is ample scope to improve further trade relation between two friendly countries. Economic ties have not been reached at desired level yet though we have bilateral relations" she said, adding that Bangladesh-Philippine Chamber can work to bridge the relationship between businessmen and investors of both the sides in order to accelerate economic cooperation.

The envoy said Philippine has global reputation in producing agro-products and their processing. So, Bangladesh could consider importing bigger volume of Halal foods from Philippine.

She also put importance on south-south cooperation with Bangladesh after latter's LDC graduation in 2026.

Administrator of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mohammad Anwar Pasha said bilateral trade relation between Bangladesh and Philippine has been improving regularly.

In this context, he told the meeting that Bangladesh had exported goods worth about $ 94.8 million to Philippine while imported goods from Philippine worth about $ 38.2 Million in 2023.
 
The chamber administrator requested the Philippine ambassador to take initiative to inspire her country's entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh's specialized economic zones on single and joint venture basis keeping in mind the Bangladesh's important strategic and geographical location in global economic map.

Honorary Consul of Philippine M A Awal, former CCCI director Zahirul Islam Chowdhury Alamgir, chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association Syed Md Arif, local leading business leaders including Mohammad Yusuf, Wahid Alam, Shafayet Alam, Imran Sheikh and Md Monir Hossen, among others, spoke at the function.