Dhaka, Bangladesh

 1.0 BACKGROUND

• The Honourable Minister of International Trade & Industry, Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed (YBM) led an official visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh from 12 and 13 January 2015. 

• YBM’s visit to Bangladesh was also to honour the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh. Malaysia was honoured by the warm welcome and presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Malaysia last December 2014.

• YAB Prime Minister had also visited Bangladesh in 2013 and witnessed the opening of Hospital KPJ. Malaysia’s healthcare company, KPJ Healthcare Bhd, was given the honour to manage the hospital and was regarded by the Prime Minister as a resounding testimony of Malaysian’s capability in the healthcare services sector.

• Programmes throughout the visit comprised of the following:

 – bilateral meetings;

 – roundtable meeting with captains of industry from Malaysia and

        Bangladesh, networking sessions with Malaysian community in Dhaka;

 – Dinner with Malaysian Diaspora

 – Private meeting with notable companies in Bangladesh

2.0 MISSION OBJECTIVES

• To foster closer political and economic relations.  

 
• To increase cooperation and open up new opportunities for Malaysian companies to explore.

• To promote trade and investment opportunities in Malaysia.

• To strengthen business networking as well as establishing collaborative initiatives & ventures.

• To explore avenues for export promotion to capture new business opportunities.

• Areas of interest include the following:-
     – Education franchising;
     – ICT;
     – Construction and property development;
     – Palm oil and related products
     – Waste and wastewater treatment project;
     – Pipeline / pipework equipment; and
     – Architectural design

(A) Roundtable Meeting with Captains of Industry from Malaysia and Bangladesh

• The meeting was held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on 13th January 2015, chaired by Mr Syed Nurul Islam, Chairman of Well Group.

• The meeting began with opening remarks by Mr Nasir Chowdhury, President of Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (BMCCI) followed by the presentation of Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed.

• The purpose of the meeting was to expand business contacts and to further business ties between Malaysia and Bangladesh.

• A total of 5 Malaysian private sectors, 41 Bangladesh companies with over 74 representatives attended the roundtable meeting.

• Private sectors involved were as follows:

 – Construction, infrastructure and property development;
 – Pharmaceuticals and healthcare;
 – Engineering services;
 – ICT;
 – Education;
 – Banking and finance; and
 – Textile sector

• The Honourable Minister in his presentation highlighted the Malaysia-Bangladesh bilateral ties in the following:
 – Trade and investment figures;
 – Bilateral trade figures
 – Foreign Direct Investment and Cross Border Investment
 – Cooperation opportunities in various sectors between private sectors of both countries
 – Benefits of Malaysia’s chairmanship in ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 to the Bangladesh business community.

• The discussion session was moderated by Mr Syed Nurul Islam, Chairman of Well Group. Among the questions and answers raised by the Malaysian private sectors and Bangladesh companies during the interventions were as follows:

 – Free Trade Agreement between Malaysian & Bangladesh which were expected once implemented will increase Malaysia product presence in Bangladesh.
 – Imports of Malaysian Made Products and Services into Bangladesh.
 – Investment incentives for foreign investor
 – Malaysian companies presence in Bangladesh
 – Visa requirement for Bangladesh Business Travellers

3.0 CONCLUSION

• The Roundtable Meeting with Captains of Industry from Malaysia and Bangladesh had served as a good platform for the business communities from both countries to enhance bilateral linkages.

• The presence of the Honourable Minister of International Trade & Industry in the meetings signified Bangladesh’s importance as Malaysia’s trade and investment partner.

• The Malaysian private sectors currently in Bangladesh  had expressed interest to further explore the Bangladesh market particularly in telecommunication, healthcare, banking, education and ICT industries.

• With exchange of bilateral visits and interactions, be it at the highest level of leadership or the business communities, there are more opportunities for both countries to work together towards prosperity and harmony as well as in achieving the ambitious bilateral trade.

• YBM sincerely hope that his visit to Bangladesh will be very successful and effective. He strongly believe his meeting will have a far-reaching positive impact on boosting Bangladesh and Malaysia’s bilateral ties as well as expanding trade, commerce and investment.

YBM’s visit to Bangladesh included a meeting with Minister of Commerce of Bangladesh, Hon. Mr Tofail Ahmed and with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Hon. Sheikh Hasina.

CONCLUSION

Trade and Investment Mission to Dhaka, Bangladesh had met its objectives to foster and enhance bilateral trade relations and facilitate economic cooperation between Malaysia and Bangladesh. The mission was able to provide information and linkages to Bangladesh companies on the opportunities available in Malaysia, as well as, the potentials for collaboration with Malaysian companies on projects in Bangladesh.

Areas where Malaysian companies can venture into, include telecommunication, healthcare, power, banking and education.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT MISSION TO DHAKA, BANGLADESH

FROM12 TO 13 JANUARY 2015

PHOTO GALLERY

YBM received token of appreciation from Elpiji Petredec Ltd.

YBM press conference with Honourable Tofail Ahmed, Minister of Commerce Bangladesh

YBM giving his presentation during the Roundtable Meeting with Bangladesh Captain of Industry

Participants attending the roundtable meeting

YBM in action during the Roundtable Meeting with Bangladesh Captain of Industry

YBM with media interview

YBM giving a speech during the Networking Dinner with the Malaysian Diaspora

YBM during the One-to-One meetings

DatUk Dzulkifle, Deputy CEO of MATRADE receiving Honourable Tofail Ahmed, Minister of Commerce Bangladesh

YBM receiving a token of appreciation from Honourable Tofail Ahmed, Minister of Commerce Bangladesh

YBM receiving guest attending the networking lunch

YBM hosting the networking lunch with notable President of Chambers & Associations in Bangladesh

YBM courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Hon. Sheikh Hasina

Mr Abu Bakar and Mr Shah Nizam greeting guest attending the function

Newspaper Clippings

The Daily Star    14/01/2015

PM seeks more investment from Malaysia

Unb, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought increased investment from Malaysia for the mutual benefits of the two friendly countries.

The prime minister made the request when visiting Malaysian International Trade and Industries Affairs Minister Mustapa Mohammed met her at her official residence Ganabhaban.

After the meeting, PM’s press secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri briefed reporters.

He said Sheikh Hasina and the Malaysian minister at their meeting discussed various issues relating to mutual interest, including trade, business and investment.

Currently, the investment volume of Malaysia in Bangladesh is about US$ 3 billion.

The prime minister said her government has created an investment-friendly congenial atmosphere in the country which may help cut the trade gap between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

“The people of Bangladesh will be benefited more if the trade gap between Bangladesh and Malaysia is reduced,” she told the Malaysian minister.

Hasina also said her government wants to facilitate the private sector of the country so that the relations between the entrepreneurs of the two counties get strengthened further.

Malaysian Minister Mustapa highly appreciated Bangladeshis working in Malaysia saying they are very much hard working, sincere and law abiding ones.

Mustapa said there is a scope for further boosting the relations in the fields of trade, business and industries between the two counties.

About the existing huge trade gap, he said the trade gap will reduce to a great extent if the proposed business forum between the two countries comes into operation.

PM’s Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Norlin Othman and Deputy CEO of Matrade Dzulkifli Mahmud were, among others, present during the meeting.

Published: 12:00 am Wednesday, January 14, 2015