Bangladesh and Malaysia should strengthen economic cooperation and explore new areas of trade and investment to expand bilateral business ties, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Taskeen Ahmed has said.
He made the remarks during a courtesy call on Malaysian Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. DCCI Senior Vice-President Razeev H Chowdhury and Vice-President Salem Sulaiman were also present.
Taskeen said bilateral trade between the two countries stood at about $2.57 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, and called for closer government-to-government cooperation to unlock further business opportunities.
The two countries could create new opportunities by sharing expertise, technology and business experience, he said.
He highlighted Bangladesh’s growing energy demand and said Malaysian investors could explore opportunities in the country’s renewable energy sector, including solar power generation.
Bangladesh has recently announced long-term incentives and investment-friendly facilities for renewable energy projects, he said, adding that Malaysian companies could establish mutually beneficial partnerships through investment, technology transfer and skills development.
Taskeen also highlighted Bangladesh’s mobile financial services sector, saying its widely adopted model could offer lessons for Malaysia. The country’s mobile financial services system has gained international attention and is being adopted in several markets, including in the Middle East, he said.
Bangladesh imports goods worth about $70 billion annually, making it a large potential consumer market for Malaysian businesses, Taskeen said. He urged Malaysian companies to expand exports and commercial activities in Bangladesh while calling for greater product diversification and two-way investment.
Liew said Malaysia has significant demand for skilled workers in its information and communications technology sector.
Bangladesh’s large young population could benefit from this demand if workers are provided with appropriate technical and professional training, he said, potentially creating more employment opportunities in Malaysia.
The Malaysian deputy finance minister also stressed the need to modernise Bangladesh’s international transaction systems to help attract foreign investment and facilitate bilateral trade.
Malaysia’s experience in Islamic finance, innovative financial products and financial infrastructure could provide useful examples for Bangladesh, he said.