Close on heels of the Bangladesh Commerce Minister calling for investment from European investors in the country, the European investors operating in Bangladesh have expressed their concerns regarding the ongoing shortage of dollars and energy security issues, which are impacting their ability to conduct business effectively.

Additionally, they have identified high inflation and the devaluation of the local currency, the Taka, as immediate challenges faced by businesses.

These concerns were reportedly articulated during a recent seminar being held in capital Dhaka.

Highlighting the potential of Bangladesh as an investment destination, these investors called upon the Government to implement sustainable policies and transparent mechanisms for energy supply to attract more foreign direct investment.

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley, mentioned that Bangladesh has the option to accede to the GSP+ programme, which is the next most generous trade regime after the Everything but Arms (EBA) programme even as he emphasised that aligning labour laws with international standards would be crucial for the European Parliament and Commission when considering Bangladesh’s application for market access under the GSP+.