capitalize on the strong Malaysian brand among local Bangladeshis, not just to expand their company in Bangladesh but also to consider investing in the country.
The External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysia’s export promotion agency, arranged the webinar titled ‘Exploring Business Opportunities in Bangladesh and Malaysia’ in partnership with the Bangladesh–Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI).
This was the first partnership between MATRADE and BMCCI in two years to boost bilateral commerce. MATRADE sponsored the webinar on the Zoom platform, which drew 347 attendees from Malaysia and Bangladesh. Syed Almas Kabir, President of BMCCI, and Amran Yem, Senior Director of MATRADE, both addressed the audience on behalf of their respective organizations.
The webinar’s goals are to inform Malaysian and Bangladeshi businesses about the new business and investment prospects available in both countries in order to foster Bangladesh as a desirable business destination, and to foster Malaysia as a desirable investment destination for Bangladeshi companies.
Ariful Hoque, director of registration and incentives-1 (Commercial) at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); Roswaidin Mohd Zain, director at the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in Mumbai; and Muzzafar Shah Hanafi, trade commissioner at MATRADE Chennai, were among the speakers.
Syed Almas Kabir discussed the strategic policies of the government and Vision 2041 further in detail. Syed Almas Kabir also emphasized Bangladeshi firms’ increased interest in investing in Malaysia. He stated that the BMCCI will host ‘Showcase Bangladesh 2022’ in September 2022 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Muzzafar Shah Hanafi expressed hopes over the global businesses. He said, “We believe there is surging demand for goods and services as the world gradually enters the post-pandemic phase. The session was also organized to inform of MATRADE services”. Malaysia and Bangladesh conducted bilateral commerce for RM10.66 billion ($2.57 billion) in 2021. Bangladesh imported goods worth RM9.36 billion ($2.26 billion) from Malaysia. Bangladesh exported goods worth RM1.3 billion ($314 million) to Malaysia. Petroleum, plastic products, clothing, mechanical equipment, and palm oil were the most traded goods between the two nations.
