ANKARA, Apr 13 (UNB): Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said Thursday here that Bangladesh has successfully entered the global investment map and is eager to be a serious partner of the global economic community. "We have already liberalised our economy. Most of our sectors have been opened to foreign direct investment (FDI). We offer very attractive incentives to foreign investors…," she said urging the Turkish companies to invest in promising and potential sectors of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing a business meeting organised by Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchange of Turkey at TOBB Headquarters. About foreign investment, she mentioned that the net annual FDI inflow to Bangladesh had increased by 34 per cent and said that large TNCs like Orascom of Egypt, Tata Group of India, Dhabi Group of UAE, Lafarge of France and TMI of Malaysia have already started investing in Bangladesh. The total investment outlay of these five companies are expected to exceed five billion US dollars in the next three years, she said, adding that the recent increase in interest among foreign investors from various countries indicates that Bangladesh has successfully entered the global investment map. On Dhaka-Ankara bilateral trade, the Prime Minister said since the two-way trade is not up to its potentials, "We need to work together to identify the areas of cooperation to harness the existing potentials." Earlier report adds: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was accorded a formal ceremonial reception by the Turkish government Thursday, the second day of her four-day state visit to Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and led her to the decorated podium at the ceremonial ground of Turkish PM Office. A smartly turned out contingent of the Turkish Armed Forces gave guard of honour to the Bangladesh Prime Minister when the national anthems of the two countries were played. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia placed wreaths at the tomb of Kemal Ataturk Thursday morning, paying tributes to the father of modern Turkey. The Prime Minister stood in solemn silence to pay homage to the late leader of the Turkey and signed a visitors' book at the mausoleum plaza.
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