KUALA LUMPUR (MALAYSIA): Showcase Bangladesh 2014, a 3-day trade fair arranged by Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BMCCI), began at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on Friday.
This is the third time the Showcase Bangladesh event is taking place in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, sources told banglanews, and, the trade fair will continue end Sunday.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Malaysian Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry Dato Lee Chee Leong, said there is much that Bangladesh and Malaysia can do for further expansion of bilateral trade and investment.
He said, “Events like Showcase Bangladesh provides a good platform for us to explore the business potential.”
Chee Leong also observed that his country’s investment in Bangladesh is currently concentrated on the energy and telecommunications sector.
“The involvement of Malaysian companies in Bangladesh can be further expanded,” he said.
Chee Leong said several areas like infrastructure, power generation, telecommunications, education and hospitality are identified as having potentials for Malaysian involvement and investment in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh High Commissioner in Malaysia AKM Atiqur Rahman, BMCCI President Nasir A Choudhury, Chairman of the Fair Organizing Committee Syed Nurul Islam, former BMCCI President Syed Moazzem Hossain, BMCCI Secretary General Raquib Mohammad Fakhrul and Treasurer Syed Almas Kabir also spoke there.
Bangladesh envoy to Malaysia Atiqur Rahman said Malaysia is among the 10 largest investors in Bangladesh but there is enough scope for further investment.
He added: “I call upon the Malaysian investors to undertake new investment ventures in our fast growing manufacturing, services and infrastructure sectors.”
He further said, “Closer cooperation in investment and trade between the two countries would bring immense impact on the development of two economies," he said adding that Malaysians will surely change its idea about Bangladesh once they visit the country.”
However, 45 Bangladeshi organizations, including Pragati Life Insurance Limited, Jamuna Life Insurance Company Limited, NCC Bank Limited, Dhaka Bank, BRAC Bank Limited, Aarong, Daffodil Group, took participate in the Showcase.
Nafiz M Ahmed, the Senior General Manager of Pragati Life Insurance Limited told banglanews that they are here to serve the expatriate apart from serving in Bangladesh.
“Our workers are sometimes seen ‘empty’ while returning home as they don’t have any savings, we want to make them conscious about life insurance,” he added.
On the other hand, Daffodil Group’s Business Development Manager Amena Hasan Ana said that they are also keen to work for the Bangladeshi who are living in Malaysia as well as contributing in Bangladesh’s education and IT sectors.
BDST: 1630 HRS, NOV 15, 2014