Bangladesh is going to be a $100bn trade economy in near future as it is growing up despite the unstable situation in 2013, a trade body leader said yesterday.

It is not too distant future, ICCB President Mahbubur Rahman said, inaugurating ICC Knowledge Centre Workshop on Incoterms 2010 & Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees (URDG) at a local Hotel in Dhaka.

“I must congratulate our private sector, in particular the export industries, namely readymade garments, leather, pharmaceuticals and also the shipbuilding industry,” he said. “I must also thank our hard working migrant workers whose regular remittances of around $14bn have helped in meeting our much needed foreign exchange.”

The business leader also appreciated Bangladesh Bank for making a foreign exchange reserve of over $20bn and stressed the need for creating congenial environment to attract both domestic and foreign direct investment for setting up basic industries, without which Bangladesh cannot sustain its growth momentum and achieve our aim of becoming middle country within next few years.

ICC Knowledge Centre is a joint initiative of International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICCB) and HSBC Bangladesh. It is a first ever unique learning, networking and knowledge facilitation platform for the professionals of the local trade community, engaged with international trade in Bangladesh.