ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman (centre) is seen with envoys and officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dhaka Committee during their recent visit to ICC Bangladesh Secretariat. ASEAN diplomats visited ICC Bangladesh and held a meeting with ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman and Vice Presidents A.K. Azad and Naser Ezaz Bijoy recently.
Mr. Rahman thanked the diplomats for giving the opportunity to brief them about the global activities of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, and ICC Bangladesh, says a statement.
ICC Bangladesh President mentioned that there is a huge trade gap between Bangladesh and ASEAN countries due to insignificant exports from Bangladesh.
He, therefore, called for increasing imports from Bangladesh to reduce the trade gap.
He urged the ASEAN diplomats to actively promote the inclusion of Bangladesh in ASEAN.
He also emphasised the need for free trade agreements (FTAs) with these countries.
At the meeting, the ICC Bangladesh President highlighted Bangladesh's economic growth, investment-friendly policies, and opportunities in key industries such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, ICT, and energy sectors.
Nguyen Manh Cuong, Chair of the ASEAN Dhaka Committee and Ambassador of Vietnam to Bangladesh, thanked the ICC Bangladesh President for inviting the ASEAN diplomats to ICC Bangladesh. The ASEAN Dhaka committee comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
The ambassador pointed out that ASEAN considers Bangladesh as a country having vast opportunity of expanding its exports to ASEAN.
Bangladesh needs to diversify its products and arrange promotion of its products in these countries, he added.
During the meeting, the participants highlighted the importance of establishing direct air connectivity and coastal shipping routes to enhance trade.
The Indonesian representative expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh's solar power sector.
The participants suggested that ASEAN countries could promote tourism and invest in the service sector, particularly in developing skilled manpower to meet the global demand.
The meeting was attended by Nina P. Cainglet, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines; Haji Haris Bin Haji Othman, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam; U Kyaw Soe Moe, Ambassador of the Union of Myanmar; Panom Thongprayoon, Minister Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy; M Robbi Firly Harkha, Third Secretary of Economic Affairs; and Sapto Rudiyanto, Economic Affairs & IT Officer of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.
From ICC Bangladesh, Secretary General Ataur Rahman, General Manager Ajay Bihari Saha and Deputy General Manager Syeda Shahnewaz Lotika were present.
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