BANGKOK: The trade gap between Bangladesh and Thailand can be reduced within two years if Bangladesh can take effective steps to ship many of its export items to Thailand, Mingpant Chayavichitsilp, president of Thai-Bangladesh Business Council, said yesterday. Chayavichitsilp said economic growth of Bangladesh is over 6.5 percent, which is tremendous.
He emphasised organising trade fairs in Thailand. “You (Bangladeshi businesses) have many things to export but you did not show those to Thai people.” He spoke in a meeting between the leaders of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and a Thai business delegation, at the World Trade Centre in the port city. Earlier, CCCI President Mahbubul Alam said there is a trade disparity between Thailand and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh imported goods worth $741 million from Thailand last fiscal year and exported products worth $39.62 million to the country, he said, adding that there should be a balance in bilateral trade. Terming Chittagong an ideal place for investment, Alam urged the Thai businesses to invest in the port city.
Two special economic zones are now under construction in Chittagong while the Chittagong port has made the city a unique one, he said. Chokedee Kaewsang, leader of the delegation and deputy secretary general of Thailand Board of Investment, said they were working to find ways on how to invest more in Bangladesh. “The reason why we are here is that you are a very fast growing economy. Investment in Bangladesh is very cost-effective,” he said. “It’s not an easy task to enhance bilateral business as there are a lot of challenges.” Strong bilateral cooperation is needed to overcome the challenges, he said.
