The British Business Group (BBG), Bangladesh has formally been re-launched at an event at the residence of the British High Commission in Dhaka, reports UNB.

"For over 13 years the BBG has been a strong partner in Bangladesh for the British Government and a responsible and respected voice within the business community," British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake said in a message yesterday.

Alison Blake, on Sunday evening, introduced the seven members of the new Board of Trustees of the BBG to government and business stakeholders from across Bangladesh.

The newly elected Chairman of the BBG, Francois de Maricourt, Chief Executive Officer of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Bangladesh since 2014, spoke of his vision for the British Business Group and its future role.

BBG's primary focus will be striving to improve the business environment for British companies that operate in Bangladesh.

To this end the BBG will organize and support networking sessions and promote the sharing of knowledge and best practice between Government and private sector.

Its members will interact in areas of mutual interest and be a bridge for greater UK-Bangladesh collaboration on the commercial stage.

"In its new form and under the leadership of Francois' de Maricourt, I am certain that it will go from strength to strength as a partner as we work together to strengthen the UK-Bangladesh trade and investment relationship and demonstrate the contribution made by British companies and expertise to the Bangladesh economy," said the High Commissioner.

Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Kazi M. Aminul Islam spoke of the long-standing historical and business links between the UK and Bangladesh.

Senior government officials, leaders of British corporates, representatives of other foreign missions and members from other business chambers and trade bodies also attended the programme.

Since its inception in 2005, the British Business Group (BBG) has been a partner and supported by the British High Commission Dhaka.

In May 2017, the BBG was formally registered as a Trust. It now has a full-time Secretariat and operates independently but in close cooperation with the High Commissioner and BHC Dhaka team.

Nearly 40 prominent British organisations from key industries are already members of BBG.

The new BBG Chairman Francois de Maricourt said he looks forward to working with the Executive Board and all the members to develop the BBG in the months and years ahead.