Bangladesh in active push to attract Malaysian investment, says Advisor Mahdi Amin

He says top Malaysian corporate leaders met Tarique during the Kuala Lumpur visit

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has held talks with chief executives of five major Malaysian conglomerates in a bid to draw fresh foreign investment to Bangladesh.

Mahdi Amin, the premier’s advisor and spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), detailed the development at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Monday afternoon.

According to him, Malaysia is a "major target" in Bangladesh's drive to attract foreign capital.

With a free trade agreement being signed and the government pushing economic liberalisation and deregulation, he said pulling in Malaysian investment is a key goal of the visit.

"The companies that met the prime minister [on Monday] include Petronas Group, Axiata, AirAsia, Perodua, and MForce," he added.

The advisor explained that the primary objective is to channel Malaysian capital into Bangladesh to tap into its vast consumer base and high market demand.

He pointed out that the government aims to expand manufacturing and production by leveraging the country's massive demographic dividend, which offers infinite employment opportunities.

To support this combination of strong market demand and workforce availability, Mahdi said the government would provide policy support and pursue deregulation to build a “pro-business, investor-friendly” framework.

Reflecting on Tarique's maiden foreign trip as prime minister, he said the visit has opened a new chapter in bilateral ties.

He added that Tarique and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim held wide-ranging talks to deepen economic cooperation, boost trade and investment, and build on the historical, fraternal relations between the two countries.