Bangladeshi businessmen yesterday urged the visiting Chinese delegation to continue sending purchase teams to Bangladesh so that the country's export volume could continue to grow.

“Bangladesh's exports to China last year grew by over hundred percent mainly due to the business contracts between enterprises. If the process continues, the actual export will surpass the contracts value from this year,” said Hossain Khaled, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry while signing purchase-contracts between Chinese and local firms.

Nine jute and jute yarn firms, two leather firms and one sea food exporting firm signed deals worth $ 80 million with eight Chinese firms.

Hossain Khaled requested Chinese delegation to ease the visa hassles that Bangladeshi businessmen face and to arrange several tours to augment more business.

He said only seven to eight Bangladeshi products, among the 84 products that China allows duty free entry into its market, could be exported from Bangladesh.

He said the Chinese government should provide technical assistance to graduate export level of the products for which China granted Bangladesh duty- free market access.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zheng Qingdian, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Md Shahab Ullah, Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Golam Hossain and Chinese Deputy Director General of Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce Liang Wentao, also the leader of the visiting team, spoke on the occasion.

Liang said the huge trade gap between the two countries is not intentional but due to difference that exists between the two countries.

The Chinese business delegation arrived in the city yesterday in order to push forward the trade cooperation between the two countries.