The first day of Best of Bangladesh in Europe has concluded with resounding success, marking a significant turning point for Bangladeshi trade and businesses. The event being held on 17-18 April 2025 at Beurs Van Berlage in Amsterdam showcased the dynamic potential of Bangladesh’s economy, expected to attract over 1500 visitors, including buyers and investors and stakeholders from around the Europe.
The two-day nation branding event is being organized by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) and powered by PDS Limited, in association with City Bank Plc, Bangladesh, and KDS Group, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)
The event featured 32 exhibitors representing eight vital sectors, including apparel, leather, jute and handicraft, IT, agro-food, poultry and seed, offering a unique opportunity for Bangladeshi businesses to connect directly with international partners.
The exhibiting companies includes Aus Bangla Jutex Ltd., Agronochain, Brain Station 23, BJIT Group, Bondstein Technologies Ltd, Countree Agro, Centrotex Ltd, Classical Handmade Products BD Ltd, Delmas Apparels Pvt Ltd, Knit Asia Ltd, KDS Group, Lal Teer Seed Ltd., Leatherina Pvt Ltd, Mapped In Bangladesh (MiB), Meridian Foods Ltd., Noize Jeans, Nourish Feeds Limited., PDS Limited, PDS Venture, Good Earth, Smartex, Pacific Knit Division, Paddock’s Jeans, Polka Flex, PRAN Foods Ltd., Paragon Group, Rising Group, Reverse Resources, Ruhrose Studio RBT,Simco Spinning & Textiles Ltd. (Cyclo), Shin Shin Apparels Ltd, Tarango, Turjo Tex Limited, Team Group, and Zhejiang Weixing Industrial Development Co. Ltd.
The event was inaugurated at 11am Amsterdam time where Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) was the Chief Guest; while Charles Whiteley, Head of South Asia Division of European External Action Service was the Guest of Honor; Pascalle Grotenhuis, Director-General for International Cooperation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands was the special guest; H.E Tareque Muhammad, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of the Netherlands was the Guest of Honor; and Pallak Seth Executive Vice Chairman of PDS Limited was also the Guest of Honor.
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman (State Minister), Bangladesh Investment Development Authority – BIDA & Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority -BEZA, said “Everything is not perfect in Bangladesh but there is a positive thing also. We can draw an ambition/ Vision for Bangladesh & try to solve many problems what we can. We can priorities the key challenges for trade investments. We have already taken initiatives towards the ambition. One is “Green channel’ which is a trade facilitates faster processes for businesses. And another one is the “One-stop service” which is a classic business model for trade investment. And also, our ambition is to make Bangladesh is a global manufacturing hub. We have skilled young people, geographical locations for business.”
Charles Whiteley, Head of South Asia Division, European External Action Service – EEAS said “Bangladesh has a remarkable progress over the years. Readymade Garment sector is a real power house for the economy in Bangladesh. EU is the largest partners of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has the all ingredients to diversify its export those ingredients include skilled workforce, young people, competitive wages, innovations, improving infrastructures, digitalization, its location bey of Bengal.
EU will remain supports Bangladesh; to reform Bangladesh, we have been a long-standing partner on labor rights through the national action plan in labor sectors Bangladesh.”
Pascalle Grotenhuis, Director-General for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, said “Netherland is honored to do a long partnership with Bangladesh in trade, investments & developments. Bangladesh RMG sectors having hard work, entrepreneurship’s, responsibilities, fair wages which is a proof for a future business model. Dutch companies have a great potential & ager to work with Bangladesh. Together we can work for future. Tomorrow, a collaboration between Netherlands & Bangladesh will be launched here in Best of Bangladesh.”
H.E. Tareque Muhammad, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands said “Today Bangladesh is open for business, things are happening rapidly for the better future, which never seen before. Bangladesh has a granted assets, its people, this work force is not just affordable but their energy, innovation are the engine of our economy.
We invite all of you to visit Bangladesh & see, Bangladesh has not only a comfort sole model but there is an algorithm, if you connect with the algorithms then it will be a win-win situation for all the potential partners & also for the people of Bangladesh. Today, we are celebrating Best of Bangladesh here & I would like to argue to all of you to have a closer look, what Bangladesh can offer whether for textile, or agriculture-food, technology or anything else.
Let us grow together, invest together in trade & business for better tomorrow.”
Pallak Seth, Executive Vice Chairman, PDS Limited Said “Best of Bangladesh is an amazing event, showcasing Bangladesh & bringing Bangladesh in the global stage.
Bangladesh has a transparency in business which can’t see in other countries. And also, Bangladesh has biggest assets is its people, positive attitude, min-set and this are the reason Bangladesh might move forward.”
Mostafiz Uddin, Founder & CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), emphasized the event’s impact, stating, “Best of Bangladesh has profoundly elevated our position in the international market. It is an outstanding opportunity for Bangladeshi businesses to showcase innovation and engage with key stakeholders, fostering partnerships that drive economic growth.”
On the first day of the event Panel Discussion 01: Bangladesh: Overarching Economic Growth and Investment Opportunities, Panel Discussion 02: Bangladesh into Future: A Global Sourcing Hub, Country Presentation (Bangladesh) by City Bank Plc, Bangladesh, Presentation PDS in Action: Turning Sustainability into Reality in Bangladesh By PDS Limited, Presentation by OneTrueValue – ORE II: Decarbonizing Global Supply Chains, Presentation by Aware™ – Proof Over Promise, Fireside Chat 01 – Opportunities for Action – Driving a Just Transition in Bangladesh by Laudes Foundation, Fireside Chat 02 – Bangladesh Poultry Industry, Breakout Session 01 – The Global Circular Future: Unlocking Social Business Opportunities in Bangladesh and Europe, Breakout Session 02 – Fashion for Good (Innovation in Action), and Breakout Session 03 – Dutch-Bangla Roundtable on Textile Recycling were held.
Contributors of the 2nd edition of the Best of Bangladesh in Europe are Apparel Impact Institute, Cascale, Circle Economy, Clean & Unique, Dutch Greenhouse Delta, European Union, Export Partner, Ethical Trading Initiative, Fair Wear Foundation, Fashion for Good, Netherlands Food Partnership, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), OneTrueValue, SeedNL, Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), and YY Ventures.
For more information visit: https://bestofbangladesh.org/
