FBCCI seeks joint efforts with Myanmar to explore opportunities in tourism, agriculture, fisheries sectors

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Sept 23 (UNB) – Country’s apex trade body FBCCI on Thursday suggested joint efforts to explore the opportunities specially in tourism, agriculture and fisheries sectors for expanding bilateral trade and investment with Myanmar, the largest country of Southeast Asia.
“The trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar is very poor… opportunities are there to expand bilateral trade and investment through joint efforts,” acting FBCCI President M Jashim Uddin told a meeting with a visiting Myanmar business delegation at its conference room.
Vice Chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) U Tun Aung led the 13-member business delegation from Myanmar.
Jashim Uddin said Bangladesh has bright prospect of exporting cement, MS Rod, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, ceramic tableware, light engineering products and toiletries to Myanmar.
He sought cooperation from the Myanmar business delegation to full tap this potential for increasing the bilateral trade.
Bangladesh’s export to Myanmar was only US$ 10.03 million whereas its import from Myanmar totaled US$ 69.64 million in 2009-10 fiscal.
The FBCCI acting president invited Myanmar business leaders to invest jointly in the prospective areas like agriculture, fisheries and tourism apart from setting up exclusive fishing zones as both countries hold longest edge of the Bay of Bengal having abundance of fish resources.
He said: “Bangladesh with tourist attractions like sandy beaches and large mangrove forest of the Sundarbans, and Myanmar with springs, waterfalls and streams within its huge mountain ranges along with ancient places and golden temples, could draw a huge number of tourists from rest of the world through introducing joint package programmes.”
He hoped that the 4th Bangladesh-Myanmar Joint Trade Commission meeting held Wednesday would lead to resolving the outstanding problems and paving the way for further enhancement of trade between the two friendly countries.
Earlier, U Tun Aung in his speech said there are immense opportunities for developing trade and investment in diversified sectors in his country and invited Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to enhance business relationship with their private sector for mutual benefit.
“You know, Myanmar is a developing country rich in vast resources of land and water. Most of our country’s natural resources haven’t been exploited even to a sustainable level to this day…immense opportunities are there for investment in the private sector which contributes 85 percent of the GDP,” he said.
Aung said the strategic location of Myanmar can serve as a favorable hub for trade with Bangladesh and neighboring ASEAN countries. “There has to be frequent exchange of trade promotion visits and trade information to achieve this objective.”
He added: “I sincerely believe that such visits will not only open a new chapter in the bilateral trade and investment relationship but will also contribute to consolidating the friendly relations between the two countries.”
Aung termed Bangladesh-Myanmar relationship as warm, cordial and friendly, and said there has been a very close trade and cultural ties between the people of Chittagong and Yakhine State in particular.
FBCCI directors SM Nurul Haque, Abdul Haque and business leaders from both sides also took part in the discussion conducted by FBCCI secretary general Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad.
END/UNB/