For all latest news, follow the Daily Sun's Google News channel.
DCCI seeks Malaysia’s support to boost Bangladesh exports to ASEAN
Daily Sun Report, Dhaka
Published: 27 Sep 2026, 12:00 AM
The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has sought Malaysia’s support to facilitate exports of Bangladeshi products and services to the ASEAN region, while urging Malaysian entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh to tap its large domestic market and regional export opportunities.
DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed made the call at separate bilateral trade and investment discussions with the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) in Kuala Lumpur on 25 and 26 September, according to a press release issued here on Saturday.
At the “Malaysia-Bangladesh Business Forum: Bridging Business and Building B2B Partnership”, organised by NCCIM, Taskeen sought support for expanding exports of Bangladeshi readymade garments, pharmaceuticals, electronics, IT-enabled services, jute and jute products and food products to ASEAN countries.
He also called on Malaysian entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh, highlighting opportunities to serve its large domestic market and use the country as a base for expanding exports to other South Asian markets.
NCCIM President Norsyahrin bin Hamidon said Bangladesh is one of Malaysia’s important trade partners in South Asia and stressed the importance of business engagements in expanding bilateral trade and investment.
He said Malaysia currently exports mainly petroleum products to Bangladesh, while there is considerable scope to increase the presence of Malaysian-made products in Bangladesh’s growing middle-class consumer market.
DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury presented a keynote paper on Bangladesh’s trade and investment potential.
At the “Strategic Forum on Malaysia-Bangladesh Business & Trade Opportunities”, organised by FMM on 25 September, FMM President Jacob Lee Chor Kok said greater private-sector engagement could take bilateral economic relations to a new level and open new areas of cooperation.
He also acknowledged the contribution of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia’s economic development, saying they provide skilled and hardworking manpower to various sectors of the Malaysian economy. He added that workers returning to Bangladesh with skills, experience and specialised knowledge gained in Malaysia could contribute to the country’s economic development and industrialisation.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Regional Groupings Division of Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Dr Rashidi Said and Director of the Central, West, South Asia and Africa Section of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Naim Abdul Rahman, among others, spoke at the event.
Meanwhile, DCCI and FMM signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in bilateral trade and investment. DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed and FMM President Jacob Lee Chor Kok signed the agreement.
Entrepreneurs from Bangladesh and Malaysia also took part in around 70 business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking sessions, exchanging information on business and investment opportunities and exploring potential areas of cooperation.