The official opening of Zambia’s consulate office in Bangladesh on Wednesday was a major milestone in enhancing the two nations’ bilateral investment and economic relations. The inauguration ceremony was held at a major hotel and was organised by the “Zambia-Bangladesh Business Forum-Dhaka.” Important government representatives and business executives were present.
Together with non-resident diplomatic missions like the Zambia High Commission in New Delhi and the High Commission of Bangladesh in Zambia, the event was organised by the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry of Zambia, and the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh.
Prominent speakers included Mohd Zayed Alam, Zambia’s consul in Bangladesh; Percy Chanda, Zambia’s High Commissioner to India; Md. Mushfiqur Rahman, Chairperson of the SME Foundation; Crusivia C. Hichikumba, Permanent Secretary of Investment and Industrialisation at Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry; and Md. Anwar Hossain, Vice-Chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau.
Anwar Hossain underlined Zambia’s strategic location as a gateway to regional markets in Southern and Central Africa, such as Congo, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, and stressed Bangladesh’s development as a robust, export-driven economy. He emphasised that greater regional economic links and exciting potential for Bangladeshi enterprises will be made possible by the new consulate.
The forum, according to Crusivia C. Hichikumba, was a significant step towards developing better business and investment ties. He pointed out that the event gave a forum for Bangladesh firms to seek partnerships with Zambian counterparts, especially in industries like agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and value-added products. He specifically highlighted how Bangladesh’s knowledge of clothing, leather, textiles, and pharmaceuticals may support Zambia’s economic development.
According to Hichikumba, the trade corridor that passes through Zambia presents substantial prospects in apparel manufacturing and other industries. Leveraging this collaboration has enormous potential for growing trade volumes and mutual benefits.
The significance of the forum for knowledge sharing and capacity building, especially in the SME sector, was emphasised by Md. Mushfiqur Rahman. Clothing, agro-processing, plastics, light engineering, renewable energy, ICT, and women-led businesses were among the important industries he suggested for cooperation.
The occasion emphasised the common goal of bringing Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector to Zambia and the larger African market. The strategic alliance is to improve production capacity, streamline the supply chain, and create new opportunities for Bangladeshi apparel exporters to access Zambia’s regional trade network.
The opening of its consulate in Dhaka marks a new phase of economic cooperation as Zambia maintains its position as a trading hub for Southern Africa, offering more chances for the apparel and other industries to prosper through improved regional and global ties.
