UK-Bangladeshi Iqbal Ahmed gets UKTI award

British-Bangladeshi businessman Iqbal Ahmed has been awarded by the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) for contributing to Britain’s export.

He received the 'UKTI Export Champions 2015' award with several other British businessmen.

The UKTI, a non-ministerial department, works with Britain-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets through exports.

The Export Champions programme, now in its third year, involves recruiting successful international firms to help new companies on their export venture.

Ahmed is the chairman and chief executive of Seamark Group of Companies and founder chairman of Bangladesh's NRB Bank Limited.

"Such recognition is inspiring," he told bdnews24.com.

"It helps me to expand business. The fact that Bangladesh also benefits from this makes me happy."

Ahmed was conferred with the OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) award from the Queen in 2001 for his services to international trade.

Seamark exports seafood and frozen food to 60 countries. The Seamark Group also runs several restaurants in the UK.

Shrimps exported by the company are mainly shipped in from Bangladesh, Ahmed said.

In 2000, Seamark opened a processing plant in Chittagong, creating about 1,000 new jobs for the local community.

The group has been awarded by the Bangladesh government for its contribution to Bangladesh's export sector as well.

Ahmed, born in Sylhet, is involved with charitable organisations in the UK and Bangladesh.

He has recently set up a secondary school and college in Sylhet.