Kim M Chance, minister for agriculture and food, government of Western Australia, said this at a seminar on 'Trade and Investment Opportunities in Bangladesh' in Perth on Tuesday, according to a message received in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh High Commission and the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Western Australia jointly organised the seminar.

Citing the people of Bangladesh as the most important resources and terming Bangladesh a 'serious country' for doing business, the minister called on the business community to develop a new business paradigm with a view to intensifying economic interaction between the two countries in the new global context.

In his address of welcome, Bangladesh High Commissioner M Humayun Kabir emphasised the shared values between Bangladesh and Australia and urged the Western Australian business community to look at Bangladesh as a profitable venue for their future investment.

He also called on the business community to explore the possibility of engaging Bangladeshi skilled and semi-skilled labours in various sectors of the Australian economy.

The high commissioner underlined the creative and business-friendly policies of the government of Bangladesh. He also drew the attention to the fact that a convergence of approach was emerging from the 'Look East' policy of Bangladesh and the Australian policy of integration with Asia.

Md Restadul Islam, commercial counsellor of Bangladesh High Commission, gave a presentation on the business potentials of Bangladesh.

David Tyler, consultant for Wesfarmers Energy Private Ltd., spoke about his business experience in Bangladesh and urged the business community of Western Australia to take the advantage of business-friendly environment of Bangladesh.

Brian Hewitt, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Western Australia, Dr Abu Siddique of University of Western Australia and Graham Droppert, honorary consul general of Bangladesh in Perth, also spoke.

Australian businessmen, academicians, chamber leaders, government officials and Bangladeshi entrepreneurs from Sydney and Dhaka attended the seminar.