Briefs | Guangzhou: Bangladesh bank opens first office on Chinese mainland

Bangladesh’s Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) has opened its first representative office on the Chinese mainland, choosing the southern city of Guangzhou. Guangzhou is a city of great economic vitality and home to the China Import and Export Fair, said Ali Reza Iftekhar, EBL’s managing director. Bangladesh has seen frequent economic and trade exchanges with Guangzhou, where there are more than 100 Bangladesh enterprises, he said. Bangladesh has joined the Belt and Road Initiative, which provides opportunity for Bangladesh to improve its infrastructure and enhance investment, trade and connectivity with countries in South Asia, said Mohammad Showkat Ali Chowdhury, chairman of EBL. He said the Guangzhou office will be a bridge of trade and business between the two countries. Dhaka-based EBL is a commercial bank established in 1992.

Shenzhen: Marine economy expo to attract industry heavyweights

The 2019 China Marine Economy Expo will be held in Shenzhen from October 14 to 17, bringing together industry heavyweights. Domestic marine economy leaders such as the China National Offshore Oil Corporation and the China State Shipbuilding Corporation will be joined by foreign giants including Royal Dutch Shell, Siemens and ABB at the country’s premier expo for the sector. At least 420 firms and organizations from over 30 segments of the marine industry have confirmed participation in the upcoming event, according to state media Xinhua. The event is expected to showcase China’s achievements in the marine economy and the latest progress in the global marine industry. The expo is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guangdong provincial government. China’s marine economy has registered steady growth over the years. In 2018, the sector’s output surpassed 8 trillion yuan (about $1.1 trillion), up 6.7 percent year-on-year, official data showed.