H.E. Reto Renggli, the ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh, presided over the program. The Vice President of SBCCI Ms. Vidiya Amrit Khan (Executive Director – Tutelar Oil Services Co. Pvt. Ltd.) stated in the introductory remarks that SBCCI has led the way in supporting Swiss businesses doing business in Bangladesh ever since its founding. She underlined that Bangladesh sold commodities to Switzerland for $99.28 million in FY 2022–2023 (it was $108.06 million in FY 2021–2022).
Dr. Tarun Patwary, FCIlT, Country Manager of Kuehne+Nagel Bangladesh, presented the treasury report of SBCCI. The SBCCI Secretary General Saad Omar Fahim (Director of Clarichem Bangladesh) presented the organization’s key activities of 2022 in the AGM.
According to Engineer Abdur Rashid, President of SBCCI and Country Manager of SGS Bangladesh, Bangladesh received $77.28 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) from Switzerland in 2022. In 2021, it was $37.80 million. He requested that everyone work together to accelerate the growth of bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Switzerland.
H.E. Reto Renggli, the ambassador, commended the SBCCI’s initiatives in his remarks. He emphasized expanding commercial activities more between Bangladesh and Switzerland to increase the volume of bilateral trade.
In the SBCCI AGM The rest of the EC members who were present were Mr. Debabrata Roy Chowdhury (Director – Legal, RSA, Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary at Nestlé Bangladesh Limited), Mr. Julian A. Weber (CEO, Secure Link Services BD Ltd), Mr. Iqbal Chowdhury (CFO – LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Ltd.), Mr. Hedayet Ullah (Managing Director, Syngenta Bangladesh Limited), Mr. Marke Heeb (Country Manager of Roche Bangladesh Limited) Mr. Sontosh Chandra Nath (MD & CEO- Alpha Vision Limited). Besides, the advisor of SBCCI Mr. Naquib Khan, Swiss Embassy representatives, Mr. Eros Robbiani (Head of Political, Economic & Cultural Affairs), Mr. Khaled Chowdhury (Senior Political, Economic & Communication Officer), Mr. Tobias Hellinger (Consular Attache) and SBCCI Coordinator Mr. Mohammad Mohi Uddin Bhuiyan also joined the event.
At the end of the event SBCCI signed an MOU with Crowne Plaza. Under this MOU the members will avail special discount from Crowne Plaza Hotel, Gulshan.
