Country’s RMG manufacturers are looking for strengthening their position in the Malaysian market as Bangladesh’s all Readymade Garments (RMG) products have recently gotten duty free access to the South-East Asian peninsula.
“We are going to participate in the largest ever Bangladesh single country trade fair in Malaysia, scheduled for August to make our position strong to Malaysian market,” BGMEA Second Vice President S M Mannan told journalists at a press conference at BGMEA conference room here on 13 July 2013.
BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufactures & Exporters Association) and BKMEA (Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association) jointly organized the press conference to declare their participation in the Bangladesh Single country fair ‘Trade in Bangladesh’. The fair is to be organized by a Bangladeshi event management organization, ‘Headmaster Event’ in Kuala Lumpur from 14-17 August.
A record 242 stalls will be set up at the prestigious fair venue ‘Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)’ in Malaysian capital where various Bangladeshi companies will display their products in front of Malaysian entrepreneurs and consumers.
Mannan said China holds the first position as RMG exporter to Malaysia since long followed by India. “Though still Bangladesh is third in the list of RMG exporting country to Malaysia, we are hopeful to take lead in this south-eastern Asian market,” he said.
Noting that the bilateral trade gap between Bangladesh and Malaysia remained in favour of the latter from the beginning, the BGMEA leader said they are keen to display their various products in front of Malaysian buyers for reducing the trade gap.
Malaysia exported goods worth 1.57 billion USD to Bangladesh in 2012 where as Bangladesh exported goods worth only 100 million USD to Malaysia during the same period.
At least 20 members of BGMEA and BKMEA will display various Bangladesh made light garments during the fair, Mannan said adding that besides, a high level joint delegation of BGMEA and BKMEA will visit the trade show to hold B2B (business to business) meetings with the Malaysian buyers.
BGMEA Vice-President Riaz-Bin-Mohammad, Headmaster Events Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shafiul Islam and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Syed Zafar also spoke at the press conference.
Shafiul Islam said the exposition also aims at promoting Bangladesh tourism industry for attracting more Malaysian tourists.
Syed Zafar said apart from garments and knitwear exporters, a number of beverage producers, software firms, banks, financial institutions, tour operators, hotels and airlines will participate at the mega Bangladesh exposition in Malaysia.
He said Bangladesh Commerce Ministry has affiliated the fair while the Malaysian Trade Ministry has endorsed it and is looking forward to welcome Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur.