ICC Bangladesh- President, Mahbubur Rahman. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, March 23, 2025 (BSS) - ASEAN Diplomats recently visited ICC Bangladesh and held a meeting with its President Mahbubur Rahman and Vice Presidents A. K. Azad and Naser Ezaz Bijoy. 

Mahbubur Rahman thanked the Diplomats for allowing briefing them about the global activities of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris and ICC Bangladesh.

ICC Bangladesh President mentioned that there is a huge trade gap between Bangladesh and ASEAN due to insignificant exports from Bangladesh. He therefore requested increasing imports from Bangladesh to reduce the trade gap, said a press release today.

He also requested the ASEAN Diplomats to actively promote inclusion of Bangladesh to ASEAN as well as have FTA with these countries.

ICC Bangladesh President highlighted Bangladesh's economic growth, investment-friendly policies, and opportunities in key industries such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, ICT, and energy sector. 
    
Nguyen Manh Cuong, Chair of the ASEAN Dhaka Committee and Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Bangladesh thanked ICC Bangladesh President for inviting the ASEAN Diplomats to ICC Bangladesh. 

He pointed out that ASEAN considers Bangladesh as a country that has vast opportunities to expand its exports to ASEAN. Bangladesh needs to diversify its products and arrange promotion of its products in these countries.

During the meeting, participants highlighted the importance of establishing direct air connectivity and coastal shipping routes to enhance trade. 

The Indonesian representative expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh's solar power sector. It was also suggested that ASEAN countries could promote tourism and invest in the service sector, particularly in developing skilled manpower to meet global demand.

The meeting was attended by Nina P. Cainglet, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines; Haji Haris Bin Haji Othman, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam; U Kyaw Soe Moe, Ambassador of the Union of Myanmar; Panom Thongprayoon, Minister Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy; M Robbi Firly Harkha, Third Secretary of Economic Affairs and Sapto Rudiyanto, Economic Affairs & IT Officer of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia. 

From ICC Bangladesh, Secretary General Ataur Rahman, General Manager Ajay Bihari Saha, and Deputy General Manager Syeda Shahnewaz Lotika were also present.