Meeting with top officials of Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industries (DBCCI)
Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) met top officials of the Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industries (DBCCI). The meeting took place via online on 18 March 2021. During the meeting Ambassador Belal was accompanied by Mr. Axel Gruber, Chief Operations Officer of the CFC, while the following officials attended from the DBCCI: - Mr. Md. Anwar Shawkat Afser, President, DBCCI - Mr. Md. Shakawat Hossain Mamun, Director & Secretary General, DBCCI - Mr. Jamal Uddin, Chairman, Standing Committee, Impact Investment, Inclusive Business and Entrepreneurship, DBCCI.
After exchange of usual greetings and pleasantries, among others, the following points were discussed in the meeting: A. DBCCI requested to share with them the Call for proposals for their information as well as to disseminate the information among their members and others interested. B. DBCCI shown their interests in participating the Call for proposals on their proposed projects on seeds, plantation for production of palm oil. C. They have shown their eagerness to build up institutional partnership between CFC and DBCCI.
Mr. Afser, President of the DBCCI, shared the updates on the development of DBCCI where a dedicated committee on the issue of impact fund have been formed within the DBCCI. DBCCI wishes to know more about the impact fund and as such expressed their keen interests in working with the CFC to make impact central to what they have been doing over the years.
In response, Ambassador Belal assured them of doing all CFC can to share its experience of working as an impact fund for almost last thirty years. While appreciating significant economic development in Bangladesh, Ambassador Belal desired to know from Bangladesh’s success stories as well. Ambassador Belal also assured DBCCI of sharing the CFC’s Call for proposals with the hope of more participation from Bangladesh. He also welcomed their interests on projects of quality seeds from the Netherlands and production of palm oil in Bangladesh and requested them to submit duly prepared call for proposals. He also mentioned that CFC would be happy to consider any request for institutional partnership subject to approval of the Executive Board.
Ambassador Belal further draw their attention and requested them to explore whether it is possible to add an optional barcode with the products to help the workers involved in the bottom to prepare the products. Ambassador Belal to share the concept note on this optional bar code to provide more support to the working people.
Mr. Axel Gruber, COO, made a presentation on CFC’s activities at the meeting, Mr. Jamal Uddin made a presentation on impact investment from the DBCCI.