Bangladesh to boost trade with Visayas
Newly installed Honorary Consul General Virgilio Espeleta of the Consulate Office of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has expressed plans to boost the relations between the Visayas and the South Asian country.
“There are a lot of opportunities in Bangladesh. The most interesting is really to develop these trade relations, specifically the areas of Visayas and Bangladesh,” Espeleta said on Wednesday. He announced this following his instalment as an honorary consul general. Espeleta is the immediate past president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Consulate General Office of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh officially opened on Wednesday afternoon at the Advent Business Center.
Espeleta urged business leaders to explore economic opportunities in Bangladesh.
Many areas to work together with Bangladesh
He pointed out that there are several areas where Cebu and Bangladesh can collaborate.
”The different areas that we can work together with our garments, information and communications technology (ICT), shipbuilding, shipbreaking, agriculture, tea, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, furniture, fruits, and leather industry,” he said.
“There are many areas we can benefit from. Either we buy and sell, or we trade, or we invest in those areas. Let’s go there. Let’s explore and do business together with the Bangladeshis,” the Cebuano trader told his fellow businessmen.
Espeleta said the primary role of Bangladesh’s Honorary Consulate General in Cebu and the Visayas is to represent the Philippines in the region’s affairs.
He said he is going to be “the go-to guy” among Bangladeshis in the Visayas provinces.
The consul said he is looking to boost friendship and linkage between the two countries in arts, culture, and tourism.
He also pointed out the need to enhance trade, investments, and mutual business relations between the two Asian countries.
Espeleta also shared that his instalment as Bangladesh’s envoy to the region was impromptu.
“This was not planned, not on my bucket list. But I believe God has a major part to play in this. God has a way of calling me,” he said.
Mayor Edgardo Labella said he believes that Espeleta will help spur economic progress and strengthen the bilateral economic relations of our two countries.
