Fulfilling
a Vision: Innovation and the future of Canada-Bangladesh
Relations
The Hon.
David Kilgour, P.C.
Secretary
of State (Asia-Pacific)
Metropolitan
Chamber of Commerce
and Industry
luncheon
Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 1,
2002
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delivery
Mr. President,
Chamber representatives, vice-chancellors,
ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf
of member of parliament, Mac Harb, chairperson
or our international trade committee, and
the rest of the Canadian delegation, it
is my distinct pleasure to be here. Many
thanks for hosting such an enjoyable lunch.
Bangladeshi hospitality is deservedly famous.
Ashamedly,
this is my first visit to Bangladesh. The
entrepreneurial and dynamic spirit of your
country is remarkable. In recent years,
Bangladesh has achieved exponential growth
in export based industries, led by garments,
shrimp, leather but also increasingly manufactured
products.
Your garment
industry serves as a prime example of a
what it takes to be a successful, fully
“globalized” industry. Indeed,
what our delegation and I have seen so far
has changed our early, uniformed, view about
Bangladesh. Achievements in ceramics, pharmaceuticals
and leather products belie your image of
a country of floods and poverty.
Canada-Bangladesh
Relations
This year
Canada celebrates 30 years of relations
with Bangladesh.
As most of
you know this relationship has traditionally
been based on a very strong development
partnership.
Canada’s
aid program in Bangladesh is our largest
in the world, amounting to more than $50
million annually and more than $ 2 billion
since your independence in 1971.
Over the
past thirty years, Canadian development
dollars have been invested in the rail,
energy, rural power and telecommunications
sectors.
CIDA projects
have contributed to advancements in the
environment, health and education.
Our cooperation
has been aimed towards helping women to
play their legitimate role in the economy
and society.
This has
been supported by the impressive progress
you made here in furthering the rights of
women our relationship is not purely aid
based. Canadian companies are visible in
Bangladesh, you just may not recognize them.
For instance
many Bangladeshis wear shoes produced by
Bata, a Canadian company.
GMG airlines
flies dash 8 aircraft manufactured in Canada.
They’re represented here by Shahab
Sattar.
Bell helicopters
made in Canada fly Bangladeshi skies, transporting
military personnel and carrying people and
supplies to oil rigs on and off-shore.
Trains operated
by Bangladesh rail are pulled by general
motors engines made in Canada.
The coins
used here may well have been made in Canada.
Canadian
wheat and pulses very well may be in the
nan and the dahl we’re having for lunch.
Now we’re
proud that there’s a new major Canadian
connection. Nortel networks, represented
here by Barhan Ozce, this month began a
us $15 million dollar project with the Bangladesh
telephone and telegraph board to install
116,000 switching lines.
These new
lines will drastically advance this country’s
communications infrastructure, accelerating
your already marked integration into a globalized
world.
Future Relations:
Innovation and Education
Evidently
our relationship is based on much more than
development aid.
At the international
conference on financing for development
in Monterey last month, prime minister Chrétien
made the following observation.
“The
consensus we have reached recognizes the
importance of development. But the consensus
also recognizes the fact that development
assistance will never by itself create the
sustained economic growth that is integral
to achieving meaningful development and
a better quality of life."
That is why
meeting the challenge of forging a real
partnership is essential.”
He went on
to say “leaders of developing nations
need to follow policies that create a framework
for sustainable economic growth and productive
private sector investment, including a commitment
to good governance and the rule of law.
Sound fiscal and monetary policies. And
improved transparency."
This was
affirmed when our prime ministers met in
Australia at the commonwealth heads of government
meeting last month.
Prime Minister
Chrétien and Prime Minister Khaleda
Zia shared a vision. They agreed that, in
this high tech and globalized world, we
should expand our relationship by increasing
business contacts and increasing the numbers
of Bangladeshis studying in Canada. My visit
will hopefully lay the groundwork for the
achievement of the objectives set by our
prime ministers.
Today Mac
and I will break the ground to begin construction
on a new diplomatic complex for the Canadian
high commission in Baridhara. These new
buildings will be a focal point for Canadian,
diplomatic and commercial activity.
They will
equip us to serve you better as we work
together to expand our trade, investment
and education links. This evening I will
launch a Canada-Bangladesh business council,
whose executive members have kindly joined
us for lunch.
This council
will provide a new bi-national vehicle for
increased partnership between our private
sectors. I welcome their initiative in forming
this council.
Canada: A
Nation of Innovation
As everyone
here is all too aware, we live in an increasingly
globalized world. Information and telecommunications
technology are the engines of the new global
economy. Canada and Bangladesh have a bright
future for cooperation in these areas.
Canada’s
information and communications technology
sector consists of close to 30,000 establishments
They employed over half a million people
in the year 2000 and generated over $130
billion in revenues. Many of these companies
are global operators; they have branch plants
in the us, Europe, and Asia.
We are, arguably,
the most wired nation on earth. For example,
we are first in internet use (428 users
per 1000 people ). We have the world’s
longest fibre optics network. Every one
of our classrooms is hooked up to the internet,
even in the most remote regions of the Snow-bound
north . Over 80% of the worlds animation
and special effects software is Canadian.
Next time you watch a Hollywood movie, with
special effects such as lord of the rings,
you are almost certainly seeing the product
of Canadian innovation and skill in producing
special effects. This opens up new opportunities
for collaboration in information and communications
technology with enterprises in Bangladesh.
We are pleased
that three of the companies who have accompanied
me to Bangladesh are at the forefront of
this global revolution. Having already mentioned
Nortel's success, we can only hope for similar
success from our other two traveling companions.
Nsi produces products and services that
enable satellite based multi-media communications
and asset tracking . They’re represented
by morteza rahnemoon.
SR telecom
is interested in a world leader in rural
wireless technology. They are already present
in the Bangladesh market. SR telecom offers
a wide range of wireless solutions suitable
for rural application in 110 countries.
Andy Keifer is representing them. Tomorrow
we will visit a local company (dohatech)
which has won major contracts to provide
software for customers in north America,
including Canada.
More importantly,
its chairperson and many of its engineers
are women. Luna shamsuddoha, chairperson
of dohatech is here representing them.
Trade and
Investment
Canada is
often known as a vast, country rich in natural
resources. True enough. What people don’t
often realize is that this gift of geography
has allowed us to exercise our innovative
talents to develop tremendous expertise
in transportation, energy and power, oil
and gas, and consultancy services. Canadians
have become builders of hydro-electric and
thermal power plants and high-voltage transmission
lines.
Canadian
power companies, such as SNC-Lavalin are
global players. SNC-Lavalin, whom jean-francois
bacle represents, a global engineering consultancy
firm which is active in many sectors including
power and transportation.
Another global,
yet distinctively Canadian company is Niko,
they are represented by their president,
Robert Ohlsen, Niko uses a unique technology
to extract gas from marginal or abandoned
fields, which, to date, has been very successful
in India. Niko is seeking approval for a
joint venture with Bapex.
I spoke earlier
of our engagement in the transportation
sector in Bangladesh. Let me introduce Juco
Jurdjevic of Yugotech. Yugotech has been
responsible under the Bangladesh environmental
management project for the conversion of
two-stroke autorickshaws to cng. There are
now 85 cng-propelled rickshaws on dhaka
roads.
We are discussing
with the government of Bangladesh and the
world bank how best to phase out petrol-driven
rickshaws, while gaining health and financial
benefits from converting the vehicles which
are road-worthy to cng.
Let me recognize
a relative newcomer to Bangladesh, the westaim
corporation, Bruce Laverty. Since 1961 westaim
corporation has manufactured coinage products
for domestic and international markets.
They have supplied their products to 42
countries in more than 100 denominations.
They are hoping for a breakthrough in this
market. There is room for expansion and
we know Canadian companies can do much more.
Our Canadian
export development corporation is keen to
provide financing for business opportunities.
If we can develop sound projects, edc would
certainly want to be involved Canada’s
CIDA inc program provides support for Canadian
companies engaged with private sector companies.
Canada is a nation of innovation, eager
for partnership with companies in Bangladesh.
Canada: An
Education Nation
We have the
chance to fulfill our leaders’ vision
in another area. If information and communications
technologies are the engines of the global
economy, then education is certainly the
key that starts them up. Nowhere is emerging
economies such as Bangladesh. Globalization
has made education more accessible. Canada’s
ninety three universities and colleges rival
those of any country in the world, including
those of our southern neighbours.
Canadian
universities are at the forefront of the
global technological revolution . Modern
computer labs, wired classrooms and internet
access exist on every campus. Moreover,
Canadian education is relatively speaking,
a bargain. The costs of foreign study in
Canada are the lowest compared with other
major host countries.
Finally,
Canada offers a safe, if some times cold,
environment and clean skies and ranks amongst
the best places in the world to live, work
and study. Truly if Japan is a global leader
and innovator when it comes to high technology,
Canada could be similarly crowned with respect
to post-secondary education.
Last year
the number of Bangladeshi students accepted
by Canadian universities increased almost
three fold. As Prime Minister Chrétien
told your Prime Minister, Canadian universities
want these numbers to keep increasing. We
are keen as well to develop links between
Canadian and Bangladeshi universities. Many
of the vice-chancellors of your foremost
institutions are with us today.
The Canadian
High Commission is here to help you to find
out about study opportunities in Canada.
Alternatively, you can click on to our website
(www.chcdhaka.gc.ca) and those of the universities
which will provide you with the information
you need.
Conclusion
Ladies and
gentlemen, hopefully my brief remarks will
convince you to consider Canada as an attractive
business partner
Our leaders
have set us a challenge. By working together
we can fulfill their vision.
Thank you
very much.
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