Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTCCI) placed a number of proposals to the Industry Minister of Bangladesh including the seeking govt. cooperation of relocating labor intensive industry in Bangladesh from Thailand, removal of tariff barriers to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and a special economic zone for Thailand.

The proposals were made during a recent courtesy call on the Board of Directors of the Chamber with Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu at the Shilpa Bhaban, Dhaka recently.
BTCCI President Sajjatuz Jumma introduced the Board of Directors of BTCCI to the Minister. DCCI President Mohammad Shahjahan Khan accompanied the delegation among others.
Mr Jumma said Bangladesh and Thailand were tested friends and the ethnic historical and cultural ties of both the countries went back years ago. BTCCI has been working an important role from its inception of 2003.
The chamber leaders warned the Minister despite the trade volume between the two friendly countries exceeded US$ 1.2 billion in 2011, it may decrease this year due to various sorts of reasons.
BTCCI President also emphasized on establishing more joint venture industries between Bangladesh and Thailand and requested the Minister to help and initiate for creating this. He also mentioned that apart from existing sectors- Jute and Jute goods, Leather, Agro, Light Engineering etc we could add another some sectors-Pharmaceuticals, RMG, Tourism, Frozen Foods, Fisheries, Infrastructure, Education & Training to attract the Thai Businessmen. He informed the Minister that Thailand would import a few products such as Pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh for which the Thai Ambassador to Bangladesh would visit some Pharmaceuticals factory soon. BTCCI President also proposed the Industries Ministry to be part of the “Destination Bangladesh 2015”organized by the BTCCI in February 2015 in Thailand. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu accepted the proposal and assured them to join there if his counterpart would take initiative and necessary arrangement to visit him.
The Minister thanked the business galaxy for their contribution to the development of the country and assured with all out cooperation for enhancing bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and Thailand. He said that the investment of some big companies in Bangladesh like Ital-Thai Development Company Limited was a proof of Thailand’s interest to consider Bangladesh as an investment destination. Thailand could also play an important role by investing in Bangladesh’s infrastructure like Roads and Highways, Power and Energy, Agro processing and other labor intensive sectors. Industries Minster also emphasized that apart from trading only, now countries should try to establish strategic partnerships.
DCCI President and BTCCI Patron Mohammad Shahjahan Khan emphasized on strengthening the already established good relationship between Bangladesh and Thailand. He stressed that potentials in Tourism, Agro Processing, Jute and Jute goods, Light Engineering and various infrastructure facilities could also be explored.
BTCCI honorary director and Minister Counsellor (Commercial) of the Royal Thai Embassy Dhaka Wachara Chumnanwong was present in the meeting and said the economies of Bangladesh and Thailand were complementary but there were some products- agro, fisheries, machineries, Leather, Jute & Jute goods which could be manufactured at each others point to overcome competition and for the marketing of those products globally.
The managing director of the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway Co. Ltd. Montchai Musicabud also attended the call on and said Bangladesh provides low cost production base and competitive labor market for Thai Businesses and therefore Bangladesh could be their investment destination. He showed the interest to relocate some of the labour intensive industries which are already saturated to Bangladesh for which he proposed for a special economic zone for Thai Companies. He thanked the Bangladesh govt. to remove all the barriers to start their mega project of the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway by which they would launch their work in January 2015.
BTCCI Founder President & DCCI Former President Rashed Maksud Khan, Director Administration Abu Rushd Tarek, BTCCI Director & DCCI former President Zafar Osman, BTCCI Director & DCCI former President Asif Ibrahim, Director Shahzada Hamid and Director Md. Munir Hossain also joined the courtesy call meeting.