Malaysia to remove tariff, non-tariff barriers, and grants free visa for Bangladesh bussinesmen

Dhaka, Bangladesh | August 01, 2007 by D-8 Secretariat

Malaysia is likely to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers for Bangladesh in phases and issue multiple visa for three years to genuine Bangladeshi businessmen.

Malaysian High Commissioner Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz said this while addressing at a preparatory meeting for sending Bangladeshi business delegations to Malayasia and holding a mini-exhibition there.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) jointly organized the meeting at EPB conference room.

EPB Vice Chairman M Shahab Ullah presided over the meeting where BMCCI president Abdul Matlub Ahmed spoke among others.

Malaysian High Commissioner Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz said Bangladesh can use its huge natural resources and manpower for the country's development.

He also indicated that ‘Halal meat' has a huge demand in the world market and Bangladesh can grab that market to earn foreign exchange.

Referring to the close ties between Bangladesh and Malaysia, the High Commissioner said, "We should increase trade in terms of value and volume."

About the plea of business people to simplify visa processing, he said that his country would soon provide three- year multiple visa for Bangladeshi businessmen who are members of prominent trade bodies.

Last fiscal year Bangladesh exported products worth US$ 18 million to Malaysia against imports from that country goods worth US$ 376 million.

BMCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmed pointing out the huge trade gap urged the Malaysian High Commissioner to provide duty-free access for Bangladeshi products into Malaysian market.

Commenting the news, D-8 Secretary General is very pleased to hear Malaysia's plan. It shows that Malaysia implements D-8 Visa Agreement that eases businessmen of D-8 to have visa-free arrangement for business visit. Therefore Secretary General believes that if member states would in the shortest possible time ratify the Visa Agreement that already signed long time ago, it will assist to boost intra-trade within member states. Visa problem is still a big hurdle for intra-trade among the member states. During a recent visit to a furniture center in Istanbul, Secretary General met a complaint from a Turkish businessman who run a furniture business which is heavily dominated by Indonesian products, and need to make business visit to Indonesia four times a year, but it takes him so much inconveniences as he is required to spend so much of his precious time to go all the way from Istanbul to Ankara simply for the visa application, and wait for a number of days to get final result of the application.

D-8 Secretary General expresses his contentment to Malaysia's effort shown in her intention and solidarity to assist Bangladesh as a fellow D-8 member states, to move up the ladder from less-developed country (LDC) to Developing countries. "We are also wishing that the other member states would use this as a good example of cooperation among the member," said Dr Alam in his office yesterday.

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