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Bangladesh

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Last reviewed: 22 July 2009

Country information

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

The bilateral commercial relationship between UK and Bangladesh is long-standing and destined to continue due to the close links between the two countries.

UK exports to and investment in Bangladesh: Exports

UK exports to Bangladesh have fluctuated over the past couple of years and 2005 saw an all time high. Due to the political unrest in 2007 export figures dropped slightly due to the uncertainty in the market.

UK Exports to Bangladesh, (£m)

YEAR 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
 		2008
VALUE 68.0 56.0 68.0 80.0 76.0 60.0
 		64.2


The UK's main exports to Bangladesh in 2008 were: -

  • General Industrial Machinery & Equipment £8.1m
  • Metalliferous Ores & Metal Scrap: £7.2m
  • Power Generating machinery & Equipment £6.3m
  • Machinery Speciallized for Particular Industries: £4.0m

UK exports to and investment in Bangladesh: Investment


The UK is one of the largest investor in Bangladesh with approximately £1.5 billion investment projects to date.  UK companies active in the market include; Cairn Energy, Standard Chartered, HSBC, Group 4 Security, Unilever, British American Tobacco, Tesco, M&S, Finlays, High Point Rendell and Duncan Brothers.  GSK have also invested in the pharmaceutical sector. In addition to the above, we are aware of a number of possible UK projects totalling $2 billion in the pipeline that are waiting approval.  Increasingly, British Bangladeshis are investing in their ancestral home.  Seamarks, in frozen seafood, FCI in clothing, Britannia Properties, Dhaka Regency Hotel and United Airlines are five good examples.

Approximately there are over 50 UK companies operating in the market with the vast majority being members of the British Business Group (BBG), which is the UK’s unofficial “Chamber” in Bangladesh. For more details of the BBG’s activities and membership visit their website at www.bbg.org.bd.

Bangladesh exports to and investment in UK: Exports


Bangladesh’s exports to the UK have increased significantly during recent years fuelled by the success in the ready-made garments segment.  In 2007, Bangladesh exports to the UK reached £718 million. Garments account for 80% of the country’s total sales to the UK with seafood the only other significant Bangladesh export. Their exports in 2008 reached a staggering £843.3 million up 17% on the previous year.

Bangladesh Exports to the UK, (£m)

YEAR
 		 2002 2003
 		2004
 		2005
 		2006
 		2007
 		2008
VALUE
 		 481.8  570.8 635.6
 		596.3
 		746.1
 		718.0
 		843.3





Exports

UK exports to Bangladesh have fluctuated over the past couple of years and 2005 saw an all time high. Due to the political unrest in 2006 export figures dropped slightly due to the uncertainty in the market.

UK Exports to Bangladesh, (£m)

 YEAR  2002 2003
 		2004
 		2005
 		2006
VALUE
 		68.0
 		56.0
 		68.0
 		80.0
 		76




The main exports to Bangladesh in 2006 were: -


  • Power Generating Machinery £14m
  • Scrap metal £7m
  • Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Products £3.5m
  • Textile fibres at £3m and

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is aware of 100 or so UK companies who do business regularly in the market through agents.

Imports

Imports from Bangladesh to the UK have increased significantly during recent years fuelled by the success in the ready-made garments segment. However, the value has fallen away slightly since the withdrawal of the Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA, at the end of 2004).

Garments account for 80% of the country’s total sales to the UK. Seafood is the only other significant Bangladesh export. Almost 10% of Bangladesh’s world-wide exports go to the UK.

Imports Bangladesh to UK, (£m)

 YEAR  2001 2002
 		2003
 		2004
 		2005
 		2006
 VALUE  455.2 481.8
 		570.8
 		635.6
 		596.3
 		746.1




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Contacts

Bangladesh

Address:

High Commission for the People's Republic of Bangladesh
28 Queen's Gate
London SW7 5JA

Telephone:

(020) 7584 0081

Fax:

(020) 7581 7477

Email: bhclondon@btconnect.com

Office hours:

Mon–Fri: 1000–1730
Consular Section
Mon–Thurs: 1000–1300 and delivery 1500–1630
Fri: 1030–1245 and delivery 1500–1630

Website: http://www.bangladeshhighcommission.org.uk/