Take a fresh look, Bangladesh tells Thailand, as the first-ever expo begins in Bangkok

Bangladesh has invited Thailand to take “a fresh look” at the country as the first-ever trade and investment expo kicked off in Bangkok on Monday to boost trade and lure investments.

‘Experience Asia’s next emerging Tiger’ is the theme of the three-day showcase in which Bangladesh is not only promoting its trade potentials but also its secular cultural identity to come closer to the key ASEAN economy.

This is to change the “narrative” about Bangladesh, as Dhaka considers Thailand a “gateway” to the ASEAN community comprising 10 Southeast Asian countries, Bangladesh Ambassador in Bangkok Saida Muna Tasneem told bdnews24.com.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed opened the exposition with his Thai counterpart Apiradi Tantraporn at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, and said he had come to tell the story of a “miracle” in Bangladesh, which began a journey from a state of devastation in 1971.

But now Bangladesh had a foreign currency reserve of over $26 billion and export earnings over $31 billion, he said.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Energy and Power Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Telecoms Tarana Halim and State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki and diplomats also joined the commerce minister to tell Bangladesh’s growth story.

A cultural team from Dhaka presented the history of trade between Bangladesh and Thailand starting from an ancient emporium to the present ‘emerging Tiger’ at the opening ceremony.

“It’s a historic moment for Bangladesh, as this is the first such exposition in Bangkok in the 44 years of diplomatic relations,” Ambassador Tasneem said.

“It takes two hours to fly from Bangkok to Dhaka,” she said, inviting Thai businesses to take “a fresh look” at Bangladesh at the opening of the expo, attended by Bangkok-based diplomats of various countries.

She said the Thai-Bangladesh relations occupy “a special place” in Bangladesh’s foreign policy.

Thai commerce minister Tantraporn thanked Bangladesh for organising the show and said both countries could serve each other as “gateways” of their own regions.

With her counterpart Tofail Ahmed, she said, they had agreed in a bilateral meeting before opening function to host a joint trade committee meeting this year in Dhaka.

“We’ll be waiting for a date from the Bangladesh side,” she said, showing optimism about taking the trade relations forward, banking on the mega exposition in which at least 55 Bangladeshi companies are displaying their export items.

Bangladesh exports less than $50 million to Thailand in the two-way about $900 million trade.

“We are capable to produce shirts to ships,” the Bangladesh commerce minister said, inviting Thai investors to join the manufacturing hub in Bangladesh.

 He offered them a special economic zone like those being offered to China, Japan and India.

“You can easily imagine our potentials. We had nothing after our liberation war in 1971. Now we export more than $31 billion. We set target to reach $60 billion by 2021,” he said.

The minister also sought duty-free market access for products Bangladesh exports to Thailand.

The state minister for power invited investors, saying Bangladesh would need more power to increase its exports and meet development needs.

“It’s a $40 billion investment opportunities,” he said, asking Thai investors to come in this sector.

Bangladesh will promote pharmaceuticals, ceramics, knitwear, and diversified jute products for businesses while trying to take investments in the energy, telecommunications and tourism sectors.

Thai ministers of those sectors would take part in various panel discussions during the event, jointly organised by the Bangladesh embassy and the Export Promotion Bureau.