Finnish companies are keen to expand businesses with Bashundhara Group focusing on engineering, technology, energy and sustainable development, says the envoy of the North European country.
“Bashundhara Group has already cooperation with a number of Finnish companies which we are keen to expand,” said Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta during a visit to Bashundhara Industrial Headquarters in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Ambassador Kimmo led the delegation including a representative of Business Finland while Bashundhara Group Sector-C chief operating officer Shahed Zahid welcomed the delegation.
Finnish delegation includes Coolbrook project director Srinivasan Sriramulu, Sandeep Kumar of Elematic, Konecranes country director Ratan Biswas, Mirasys Managing Director Arindam Das Sarkar, Routa Digital chief executive officer Kumar Abhijit, Saiful Islam of Wartsila, Wirepas regional head Maruthi Mallepalli, Antti Herlevi and liris Määttä from Finland Embassy, Business Finland Regional Director Gitta Perez, Päivi Mähönen and Dharmesh Sharan.
Talking to the media after the meeting, the envoy mentioned that the Finnish delegation had a bilateral consultation with the interim government on Tuesday.
“We also have a business delegation to discuss economic issues with Finland and Bangladesh. We came to Bashundhara Group today (Wednesday) for an important meeting that we have during the visit,” he added.
Regarding the meeting agendas, the envoy said that the meeting focused on technology, sustainable construction, engineering, energy and sustainable development.
“ICT and sustainable development are two areas where Finland has strength,” Any investment plan, the envoy said, “That’s too early to say”.
After the meeting, COO Shahed Zahid said that Finish delegates discussed possible aspects of collaboration with Bashundhara Group during the meeting.
“Basically, we have discussions on paper, cement sectors, precast building and other news areas. They are very interested in helping us. They discuss technology transfer in the cement sector to replace the fossil fuel-based system with an electric process, which is very promising,” he said.
Zahid further mentioned that Bangladesh has a lack of cheap funding at this moment where the Finnish government can collaborate with us through a bilateral investment framework.
“We have diversified industries. One of the main agenda of the meeting is cost-effective funding. We are optimistic with the discussion,” he said.
The Finnish delegate has an interest in sharing their equipment in the paper, chemical, technology, and medical sector.
“Today’s meeting is very promising. Now, the foreign delegates including business leaders came to Bangladesh due to increasing confidence over the economy,” he added.
Bashundhara Group Senior DMD Mustafizur Rahman, DMD KM Zahid Uddin, and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
bd-pratidin/Rafid
