The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Inadequate marketing and lack of quality assurance for Bangladeshi products were held responsible for their lower demands among Malaysian consumers, said Chief Secretary Government of Malaysia, Y Bhg Dato' Musa Muhammad.

"Despite significant trade potentials for Bangladeshi products, a few could be found in Malaysian markets. People there either don't know about them or have lack of trust in their quality," Musa Muhammad explained.

It is the failure of marketing agents who could not restore general confidence on the products, which is keeping your business away from Malaysia, he added.

He was addressing the formal inauguration of Malaysia Trade Centre (MTC) at Gulshan-2 and pre-launching ceremony of upcoming Show Case Malaysia Fair in the capital yesterday. The session was presided by Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Center (BDPC) Muhammad Saidur Rahman.

Pointing at the vast trade imbalance between Bangladesh and Malaysia, Hon'y Secretary General of Bangladesh-Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) Syed Moazzem Hussain criticized Bangladesh government for their lack of assistance in this regards. "In case of any trade fair arrangement or private initiatives, in order to promote Malaysian products, their government always offer numerous financial and logistical supports as encouragement. But in our case, such assistance is so little to mention," said Hussain.

He urged the Bangladesh government to support establishment of Bangladeshi Trade Center in Malaysia, which the BMCCI plans to inaugurate in March 2008.

According to his experience from recent trade fair in Malaysia he said, "If proper product marketing and promotion is carried out, Malaysia is a great potential market for Bangladeshi products." Establishment of Bangladeshi trade center there could play a vital role in this regard, he added. Speaking on the relocation proposal from Malaysian companies to Bangladesh, Malaysian High Commissioner to Dhaka Dato' Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz said spadework was yet to be taken from the Bangladeshi side.

According to him, to invite Malaysian company to relocation here, some basic initiatives like tax relaxation, power security and smooth transportation are to be ensured.

"Bangladesh government is working on these and negotiations are taking place between both the sides," said the Malaysian envoy.

Expressing optimism about the future of Malaysian trade in Bangladesh, President of MTC Hajah Hazizah Binti Awang expected great response from importers in the trade center.

"Even before formal inauguration, numbers of interested importers have visited here and showed great interests," she said.

"Through MTC display, some products have already being imported and are available in the local markets. It indicates the bright future of Malaysian trade in this country," added Masudur Rahman," Chairman of MTC.