Norwegian companies have started matchmaking with the local companies to explore the business opportunities in the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh.
A delegation of 17 Danish and three Norwegian companies, part of a Nordic business delegation, jointly hosted an event with the embassies of Denmark and Norway at Westin Hotel in Dhaka.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, energy adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said Bangladesh had already created a milestone in installing solar home systems across the country.
‘We targeted to produce 5 per cent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2015, but we have already reached the goal by installing 2 million solar home systems,’ he said.
Bangladesh has now set its eyes on producing power through solar panels for large-scale irrigation projects, he said.
Tawfiq-e-Elahi urged the delegation to introduce solutions or technologies that enhance energy efficiency.
Svend Olling, ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, said Bangladesh was facing challenges in the energy and water sectors.
‘Bangladesh needs to counter these challenges where the Danish companies could offer solutions.’
The envoy said energy crisis was a growing concern for a developing country like Bangladesh, making the energy efficiency, green technology and energy conservation important for the country.
‘The members of the delegation are the world leaders in these areas and can offer world-class solutions to Bangladesh,’ he said.
He also said that the Danish companies would be optimistic despite challenges in Bangladesh such as traffic jam, corruption and tragic incidents like the collapse of Rana Plaza building
Ragne Birte Lund, ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh, said, ‘Bangladesh might face problems now, but the good news is there are solutions.’
Ifty Islam, managing partner of Asian Tiger Capital Partners, said the climate change issue was a major commercial opportunity for companies in Bangladesh as well as in other parts of the world.
‘Local and global companies can come up with solutions that will help the country mitigate the impact of the global warming,’ he said.
Shamim Ul Huq, president of Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh, said Bangladesh is blessed with renewable resources which would be the future of the country.
The Danish companies in the delegation are VM Klima, DanSolar, Chembo, Nordic Air Filtration, JS Ventilation, Østkraft, Randers Spildevand, Vestas, Master Vision, Aarhus Arkitekterne, Smed Marine Service, FleksEnergi Network, Kølemadsen, Smoke Solutions, Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster and Uridan.
The Norwegian companies are A-Aqua, Norsk Biogass and Agrinos.
-With New Age input
