TBT DESK: The second edition of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Bangladesh Exhibition was inaugurated on Friday at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), showcasing the growing scope of cooperation between Dhaka and Beijing.

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin opened the two-day exhibition as chief guest. The ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen, Additional Secretary of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Md Sobur Hossain, Finance Ministry’s ERD Additional Secretary Mirana Mahrukh, and President of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) Han Kun, among others.

In his address, the adviser raised concern over Bangladesh’s alarming road safety record, describing it as “almost like a mass killing” caused largely by unsafe commercial vehicles. He urged Chinese manufacturers to consider producing quality trucks locally to meet demand and help make Bangladesh’s economy “a one-trillion-dollar economy as soon as possible.”

Mr Uddin also highlighted the importance of diversifying trade. “China is Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, with imports worth over $22 billion. Yet our exports to China remain far behind. Ambassador Yao Wen has taken steps to promote our products, from garments to mangoes, but we must still identify which intermediate goods can be manufactured here to strengthen our competitiveness,” he said.

Ambassador Yao Wen underlined Bangladesh’s early embrace of the BRI, calling it “a new dimension” in regional cooperation. He noted that China has been Bangladesh’s largest source of investment during the interim government period, with Chinese investment rising by 254.3 percent in the first half of this year compared to August last year.

Energy official Md Sobur Hossain encouraged Chinese investors to focus on renewable energy opportunities, while Mirana Mahrukh reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to building “a discrimination-free society” through stronger cooperation with China.

This year’s exhibition features 80 booths from 40 companies, including 32 Chinese firms. It aims to boost bilateral collaboration in infrastructure, technology, energy, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing. Alongside displays of innovation, the programme offers B2B and G2B networking sessions and seminars on trade, investment, and industrial opportunities.