Dear visitors. Assalamualaikum.

Let me take the opportunity to provide some information on the International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB).

IBFB is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of Bangladeshi and foreign business owners and executives. Working together, our goal is to identify common business challenges, consider solutions, and advocate for change in public policy that will strengthen our business environment and accelerate our country’s economic growth for the benefit of all Bangladeshi citizens

IBFB was formed under the register of Joint Stock Companies and Firms in September 2005, and received support in from the International Republican Institute (IRI) and also receives support from PROGATI(Promoting governance, accountability, transparency and integrity),  the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

We now have close association with the US Embassy, USAID, the Japanese Embassy, the German Embassy, IFC, DFID, BICF, and JICA; and we will soon have association with business chambers in European countries.

Since its inception IBFB has worked on some of the very important areas in business advocacy. IBFB has organized a pre and post-budget discussion, a roundtable discussion on the role of media in business advocacy, a discussion session on the complexities in the Income tax laws nation wide, also discussion on Public service delivery and the business environment nationwide,   and so on. Our forum will also take the initiative to promote trade and investment with the European Union, Japan, Canada and other potential countries.

In addition, we are working towards building a directory of leading business houses by sector, including their short portfolio. We aim to link local companies into a wider business arena. With this database, any interested party can explore their initial business choices via the Internet. Moreover, we regularly provide country economic data updates. Our business tips, business solution services, guide to starting a business, government trade policies and notable business research and articles will be of help to IBFB members and the web site’s visitors. I encourage everyone to utilize our website as a dynamic resource for member news, business contacts, events, and the interactive forum.

With the support from our valuable members I am determined to make IBFB a more effective organization. Already we are working hard to lay plans for the future. You can play your part by supporting us where needed, like introducing new members, and spreading the word. By getting involved, you can make IBFB a better organization. In this way we can create a vibrant partnership which would be ready and able to build on the gains already made.

Sincerely,

Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury
President, IBFB and
Former Mayor, Chittagong