Delegates urged to explore ‘untapped fields’
With digital economy, we can network and market these products from Malaysia to other countries including China.
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Visiting trade mission delegates from Sarawak held meetings with Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau ( EPB) and the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( BMCCI) here on Monday.
The meetings provided the opportunity for the delegates to promote their products, discover new business prospects, and expand their network.
EPB vice- chairman and CEO Mafruha Sultana encouraged delegates to work with the Bangladeshi business community to explore “untapped fields” and economic opportunities.
She said Bangladesh now exports products to 198 countries, and the country has succeeded in maintaining gross domestic product ( GDP) growth of more than 6 per cent over the past few years, including achieving 7.1 per cent GDP growth last year.
She added that Bangladesh plans to hold a trade fair in Malaysia to boost bilateral trade.
Meanwhile, the delegation’s honorary leader Assistant Minister of Agriculture Malcolm Mussen Lamoh said there are many potential products that Bangladesh can export to Malaysia.
“With digital economy, we can network and market these products from Malaysia to other countries including China,” said Mussen.
Delegation advisor Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( KCGCCI) secretary general Jonathan Chai said both Bangladesh and Malaysia share a lot of commonalities, and he hoped this friendship could be turned into business opportunities.
During the meeting with BMCCI, Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Nur Ashikin Muhd Taib said Malaysian products are well accepted here.
She encouraged Malaysian companies to set up manufacturing facilities here so
Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Assistant Minister of Agriculture and delegation’s honorary leader
that the products could be sold at cheaper prices and exported to other countries in South Asia.
BMCCI president Md Alamgir Jalil said the chamber shared the Sarawak delegation’s objective to explore potential bilateral business and investment opportunities.
The chamber’s past president Syed Moazzam Hossain encouraged delegates to participate and promote their products at the Showcase Malaysia 2017 scheduled to be held here in September.
“In fisheries, we do not have technology to process into other products. The same goes for our fruits and agricultural produce, we just export and not processing. This is where we hope we can work together with Malaysia,” he said.
Among those present at this meeting were the presidents of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association and Bangladesh Agro- Producers Association, as well as officials from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, Prime Minister’s Office.
KCGCCI vice-president Tan Jit Kee, who is also a delegation advisor, said this inaugural trade mission to Bangladesh allowed Sarawakian delegates to learn more about what the country can offer.
“Sarawak companies did not know much about Bangladesh business opportunities. We only knew about supply of Bangladeshi workers.
“This trip allowed us to learn more, including Bangladesh’s vision to achieve middle income economy by 2021. This means Bangladeshis will have more purchasing power.
“The sector of housing and real estate development is one area we can look into,” he said.
Apart from KCGCCI, the delegation also comprised members from the Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) Kuching.
Bangladesh is the fourth largest inland freshwater producer in the world, the world’s fifth largest producer of poultry, and the world’s second biggest garment producer.
It is also one of largest producers of potatoes, which are also exported to Malaysia, and is also involved in shipbuilding and light engineering.