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Regus offers convenient but low-cost office space

Md Fazlur Rahman
A central location plays a key part in tapping in business potential, but for start-ups finding one to set up office with their limited budget is a nearimpossible task.
The same is true for travelling businessmen, who are in the country occasionally and do not need a permanent office structure.
But now, both of the groups have found a solution in Regus, the world's largest provider of flexible workplace.
Regus has opened two centres in the two key commercial districts of the capital - one in Crystal Palace on Gulshan South Avenue in October last year and another in the UTC Building at Karwan Bazar in March - to provide a simple and flexible solution.
Both the centres provide a range of fully-equipped workspace options and business services including a business lounge, part-time and virtual offices, serviced offices, meeting rooms and video conferencing.
Regus also offers global membership, which means its members can avail facilities in any of its 2,000 centres located in 650 cities of 100 countries, said Rejaul Amin Sohail, who joined the company as its new head recently.
Businesses can access the ready-to-use offices with no upfront capital expenditure or long-term financial commitment. Facilities include office and meeting space, business lounges, high-speed WiFi and professional support staff.
Sohail said Regus's entry in Bangladesh will help local and foreign companies invest in this fast-developing economy and support efforts to attract foreign direct investment.
"Bangladesh is a potential market for Regus as the economy has continued a healthy growth. As a result, a lot of business opportunities will be created in the years to come," he told The Daily Star in an interview.
The requirements for the type of facilities that Regus offers will only grow in the coming years in Bangladesh.
"We are providing an opening to the new entrepreneurs from both home and abroad. We are also providing a platform to local companies to use our facilities abroad in order to expand their business footprint," Sohail said.
Regus sees its centres in Bangladesh as gateways to an economy with ambitions to become a middle-income country by 2021.
Company officials said flexible office option is more favourable for start-ups and business travellers, as the facilities allow them not to be locked into long-term contracts that do not suit their needs.
This is in sharp contrast to the normal practices in Dhaka, where occupants have to shell out a huge sum and enter into a long-term contract.
All the meeting rooms at Regus centres are served by a dedicated support team and include free internet, telephone with speakerphone functions, flipcharts, whiteboards and markers, water, tea and coffee, note pads and catering services.
Customers can also use LCD projectors and screens.
Regus’s approach has been favourably received by the business community. For instance, ETC Associates, a trader of leather products, started its business at the Regus centre in UTC Building from last month at a monthly rent ofTk 50,000.
A dozen of its staff members work there to sell leather products, bags, wallets and belts in foreign markets.
Jinia Preity, administrative officer of the company, said: "The most important thing is that you always feel that you are working in your own office. You can come and work whenever you want."
ETC Associates is not alone.
Several other well-established companies and start-ups share the same building and the same is true for the Gulshan centre.
Many multinational companies operating in Bangladesh such as Intel, Western Union, Dow Chemical, Subcontinental Media Group of India and Vivarte Group of France are taking services of Regus. The number of its clients is about 20.
Shahed Osman Joher, president of Shahed Borwnoor International Ltd, has rented three offices at the Regus centre at the UTC Building for six months at Tk 135,000 to look for business opportunities in Bangladesh in the manufacturing sector.
"The facilities are wonderful and the place is secure," said Joher, whose company uses Regus Centre in Malaysia
and Saudi Arabia as well.
Hussains Business Consultants, an accountancy firm, also has a one-room office at the UTC centre.
"What makes Regus facilities special is that people feel that they are working in their own office," said Rezwanul Hoque, general manager of Regus Bangladesh.
He said local clients, many of whom were unaware of Regus in the past, have started to see the value of its facilities.
“They don't need to worry about office, furniture, AC, reception, phones, internet, cleaning or any other facilities needed to run an office. Our services help them keep the business start-up costs at a minimum level."
"We are providing them all these services at an affordable price. As a result, the start-ups are jumping on to take the service."
Regus allows customers to run own virtual office complete with business address and local contact phone number. Its professional teams will manage calls and handle mails.
Sohail, a former head of corporate affairs of Airtel Bangladesh, said the company plans to open two more centres in Dhaka and one in Chittagong.
Founded in Brussels in 1989, Regus is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on the London Stock Exchange. More than 1.5 million customers benefit from its facilities everyday.
fazlur.rahman@thedailystar.net