Chen Namchaisiri, chairman of Federation of Thai industries, had received a request from Thai textiles association to urge the authorities of both the countries to hold negotiation on textile trade. In this context, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Matlub Ahmed led the Bangladeshi delegation in the talk, while top officials of three Thai chambers – Federation of Thai Industries, Thai Chamber of Commerce and Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce of Thailand – attended the meeting held on the sideline on the second day of the three-day Bangladesh Trade and Investment Expo in Bangkok, Thailand.

Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh ambassador to Thailand said that Bangladeshi businessmen agreed to help Thai exporters to get zero duty for their textile products, while Thai traders agreed to help their Bangladeshi counterparts to get the same facility for ready-made garment (RMG) products. She had a talk with the Thai authorities and they assured that they would consider the tariff rate reduction for the RMG products next year.

The ambassador added that the delegations also agreed to pursue direct coastal shipping link between the two countries and Bimstec visa arrangement for businessmen.Bangladesh and Thailand are both members of the seven-member Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical

and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec).

She said that State Minister for Energy Nasrul Hamid had a fruitful meeting with a number of Thai energy companies.Post and Telecommunications State Minister Tarana Halim also had meeting with four or five Thai telecom companies to invest in Bangladesh.

Meanhwile, several top Bangladeshi entrepreneurs made presentations to showcase the potential of lucrative business in Bangladesh on the second day of the expo.The speakers highlighted the business environment in Bangladesh and urged the Thai businessmen and investors to engage with the country..

Mohammadi Group Managing Director Rubana Huq, in her presentation, gave a vivid picture of the RMG sector of Bangladesh. She said at the presentation that they want to trade with Thailand.