Eastern Bank launches China Business Desk

Eastern Bank Ltd (EBL) inaugurated a "China Business Desk" at its head office in Gulshan yesterday to facilitate trade and banking services between China and Bangladesh. 

Planning Minister MA Mannan expressed his gratitude to China for support in the Padma Bridge's construction and hoped that the EBL's one-stop solution centre would better serve banking needs of enterprises and investors, said a press release.

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China accounts for nearly 17 per cent of Bangladesh's total trade, surpassing that with India and the US, highlighted Ali Reza Iftekhar, managing director and CEO of the EBL.

China has growing interest in investing in sectors such as ICT, food processing, and renewable energy in Bangladesh, he added.

"Chinese companies are willing to increase trade and investment with Bangladesh," said Song Yang, economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh.

The desk will better contribute to the development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, he said.

   Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Al Mamun Mridha, general secretary of the Bangladesh-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Sohail Murshed, chief executive officer of EBL Finance Hong Kong, were present.