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| Taiwan sets up
office in Bangladesh despite China protest |
Taiwan has
established a liaison office in Bangladesh in what the foreign
ministry said was a breakthrough for it in South Asia despite
Chinese protest, an official said.
The Dhaka office, which is set to begin operations, will
"provide consular" and other services, foreign
ministry spokesman Richard Shih told AFP in Taipei.
"The office there will be authorized to issue visas for
Bangladeshi people wanting to visit Taiwan," Shih said.
"The Chinese communists did file a representation with
the Bangladeshi authorities," Shih said, adding that
"Bangladesh would open an office in Taipei later this
year."
The office will be headed by Frank Chen, former deputy chief
of the ministry's department of general affairs.
Shih said the opening of the office was "a
breakthrough" for Taiwan as it would be the second
Taiwanese mission in the region since 1995 when it opened an
economic and cultural office in the Indian capital.
Neither Bangladesh nor India recognize Taiwan which Beijing
regards as part of its territory waiting to be reunified with
China, by force if necessary.
The liaison office in Bangladesh would help "enhance our
bilateral cooperation in fields such as the economy, trade,
culture, education and technology," the Taiwanese
ministry said in a statement.
--AFP |
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Consider
investors’ concern before giving nod to trade unionism at
EPZs:
ROK envoy |
South Korean
Ambassador Kyu-Hyung Lee Sunday called upon the Bangladesh
government as well as the US authorities to consider the
concerns of investors before allowing trade unionism in the
export-processing zones.
"Koreans like others are very much concerned about TUs,"
he told a meeting of foreign investors operating here, also
calling upon the government to award the license for proposed
Korean EPZ to strike goodwill for Bangladesh.
He was addressing the monthly luncheon meeting of Foreign
Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
He said the Korean EPZ, if established, would bring billions
of dollars as well as create jobs for around 100,000 people.
The EPZ has been waiting for government approval for last 2-3
years, he added.
Besides, he noted, investors would be interested to see better
a law-and- order situation and a better administration for
investing more in the country.
"Bangladesh is still a good place for investment,"
said the envoy, explaining the advantages of cheap labour,
friendly people, incentives like tax holiday.
He apprised the meet that many Korean entrepreneurs were
expanding their businesses while some were looking for new
areas.
Turning to the Bangladesh-Korea economic relations, he thought
the trade deficit Bangladesh suffers with Korea was not
serious as 65 per cent of the country’s imports from Korea
generate exports for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh suffers a trade deficit of US$500-600 million with
the newly industrialized country, importing textiles,
chemicals, iron and steel, machinery and electric goods.
Bangladeshi export items include plastic, rubber and leather,
textile, electric, agricultural and iron and steel products.
He said the two governments also had discussed for long
devising some means to allow preferential market access for
Bangladeshi products to Korean market.
Some 51 Korean companies have invested around US$220 million
in the EPZs, employing 55,168 workers, while 130 companies
invested around US$100 million in the domestic tariff area,
employing 35,000.
The Korean envoy said some 1,800 Bangladeshi nationals were
now living in Korea of whom 50 per cent went there illegally.
However, he said, the two governments should work together to
reduce the illegal immigrants.
FICCI vice-president Stephen Daintith gave address of welcome
while committee member Andrew Fawthrop gave vote of thanks.
--UNB | | |
