The first-ever Bangladesh expo in Bangkok has ended laying a “strong foundation” from where both countries can take a fresh look at each other, but challenges to follow up on the discussions remain.
Published : 01 Jun 2016, 06:10 PM
The aim of the showcasing was to present Bangladesh as a “manufacturing hub” to Thailand, which can serve as a “gateway” to the country’s entry into the economy of ASEAN – the grouping of 10 Southeast Asian nations.
Chalermpol Thanchitt, Special Envoy of the Thai foreign minister, however, said “we can serve as each other’s gateway to our respective region” – much to the delight of Dhaka.
He congratulated the Bangladesh embassy for such a “well-organised” expo at the closing ceremony on Wednesday.
Thanchitt was an ambassador in Dhaka between 2007 and 2010 and considers himself as a ‘friend of Bangladesh’.
He said Bangladesh was “one of the most attractive investment destinations in the region”, a message that Dhaka wanted to send across during the three-day expo when Bangladesh’s cultural heritage was also presented through dance, music, and fashion show.
“Let us join hands for creating a new chapter of our relations,” Thanchitt said, “a chapter that would bring growth and prosperity of the both countries.”
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam thanked the embassy for organising the expo and said the foreign ministry would work “closely” with the commerce ministry back in Dhaka to deliver on the promises made during the discussions.
“We have to put our words into action,” he said, adding that this expo laid “a strong foundation and both countries will take a fresh look at each other”.
“We need to do a follow-up of the suggestions made,” he said.
State Minister for Telecom Tarana Halim, who sought investment for the ICT, said after the event, “We must work on three Cs –cooperation, coordination and political commitment – which will open up a new horizon of connectivity.”
Some 55 Bangladeshi companies representing pharmaceuticals, diversified jute products, ceramics, leather goods, and clothes displayed their products.
Shahidul Islam, a former FBCCI leader said on behalf of those companies that they had learnt a lot about Thailand at the expo.
“We need more of such expos. It was a learning experience. We learnt about the Thai market and our weaknesses. The next time we come, we will be better prepared,” he said. “It takes time to do business. The process just began.”
He, however, urged the Thai authorities to ease visa formalities for business people, and review the duty structure, which, he said, was “not in favour of Bangladesh”.
Bangladesh Ambassador Saida Muna Tasneem said they made the effort to make a ‘new Bangladesh’ familiar to Thailand.
“This was an expo to create a new narrative in which Thailand would take a fresh look at Bangladesh. We have now created such a platform.
“We never showcased Bangladesh’s manufacturing this way before. This was not a fair to sell products; it was to showcase our products.”
She said she received a “positive assurance” from the ministers for commerce, industry, tourism, ICT and energy.
Thai ministers for commerce, industry and tourism and senior officials of the ministry of ICT and energy attended different sessions at the expo.
Thailand also showed interest in investing in the food processing, energy and tourism sectors.
The Thai commerce minister wants to visit Bangladesh this year for the joint trade commission meeting.
The ministry sought a fresh list of products for which Bangladesh wanted duty-free access to the Thai market.
The Ambassador said she had set her priorities to push for businesses in Bangkok. “The number one priority would be pharmaceutical business. The second priority will be ready-made garments, then ceramics, leather goods, and diversified jute products”.
But she lamented that her embassy was not well-staffed to carry out the “extensive follow-up” that would be needed.
“We don’t have a commercial counsellor in the embassy. Even our Singapore embassy does not have one. In fact, we don’t have commercial counsellors in most of the ASEAN countries,” she said at the closing ceremony.
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