All Roads lead to Dhaka
South Asia Maritime and Logistics Forum 2018 curtain raiser event was held in Dhaka among guests from ministry, trade associations and industry.
Government representatives, trade associations and industry leaders in South Asian maritime sector will head to Dhaka in October as the Capital city of Bangladesh will be hosting the 2nd edition of South Asia Maritime and Logistics Forum (SAMLF) on October 9-10, 2018. The forum is being organized by Maritime Gateway and CIMC Events in association with Ministry of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh.
SAMLF aims to bring together governments, trade associations and industries in South Asian region in contact with leading business enterprises from Europe, Middle East and South East Asia and beyond. Last year, the debut edition of SAMLF was held in Mumbai, where for the first time, all the countries in South Asia came together to see how they can all work jointly as a region that is shaping up to be a driver of economic growth, trade and market expansion for the entire world, and in the process creates bigger opportunities for the entire region.
In a bid to reach out to the trade in each member country of South Asia, the annual summit is planned to be organized in a different country each year. The first edition of SAMLF was hosted in India with the support of Minister of Shipping, Govt of India. Considering the huge response received by the debut event and given the immense maritime and EXIM trade potential of Bangladesh, the Ministry of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh has come forward to host the 2018 edition of SAMLF.
This forum will play a key role in bringing deep insights into maritime infrastructure, focus on investment opportunities and bring meaningful relationships to the table. It will explore opportunities, find solutions for the existing challenges, share best practices and identify ways to collaborate. This forum will provide each of the South Asian countries with an opportunity to market collectively as well as individually. New business and investment opportunities in the region and respective countries can be promoted to a global audience.
The changing face of Bangladesh beckons rising opportunities for logistics industry. It’s time that global players and investors in international trade, shipping, logistics and infrastructure development look at Bangladesh anew and make deeper inroad to this emerging land. Transformative developments are underway within Bangladesh, focusing on the development of the local economy. All these promise significant positive yield to most.
Mahbubul Anam
President
Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association
“There should be a strong focus on developing economic and diplomatic ties between south Asian countries in terms of maritime and logistics. Increased trade in South Asia will help to pave the way for maritime development within the region.”
Md. Abdus Samad
Secretary Shipping
Ministry of Shipping, People’s Republic of Bangladesh
H.E.M Riaz Hamidullah
High Commissioner
Bangladesh High Commission to Sri Lanka
