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Malaysia Agrees on Giving Duty-free Access to 19 Local Items
Malaysia agreed Tuesday to give duty-free access to 19 categories of Bangladeshi products and relocate its labour-intensive industries in Bangladesh, report agencies.
It also agreed at the third Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) that ended in the city to recruit manpower from Bangladesh based on its requirement in Malaysia.
In addition, Bangladesh and Malaysia also decided to enhance cooperation in capacity building, agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism and IT development.
Foreign Minister Morshed Khan described the Malaysian foreign minister's visit to Dhaka as a "very significant development" in bilateral ties.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid bin Syed Zaafar Albar and Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan led their respective countries to the JCM held after 11 years and signed an agreed minutes of the meeting.
"I find the meeting very productive… we have agreed to cooperate in capacity building to develop human capital, tourism, bio-tech and IT development," Zafar Albar told a joint press conference at the Sonargaon Hotel.
Malaysia, he said, already has investment in telecommunication sector and is interested in making investment in power and energy sectors in Bangladesh.
Asked about reducing the trade imbalance, Albar said the two countries have agreed to enhance the volume of trade to reduce the trade gap. But he noted that although trade balance is in favour of his country, investment is in favour of Bangladesh. So, there exists a compensatory balance between the two countries.
The Malaysian minister, however, said: "we should not only look at the trade imbalance. We should also look at the investment side, which is also equally important for creating job and prosperity."
On recruitment of Bangladeshi workforce, Albar praised Bangladeshi workforce contributing to its economic growth and development, saying that the recruitment of workforce would depend on the need of the private sector.
Over 54,000 Bangladeshi workers are employed in different sectors in Malaysia, he said, adding: "we've agreed that we will continue discussion based on our requirement."Albar said: "We don't stop any country from becoming the source country… If there is requirement, of course, Bangladesh can negotiate with relevant authorities -- the Labour Ministry, the Home Ministry -- to send its workforce."
Albar also said the MOU signed by Bangladesh and Malaysia in 2003 on recruitment of manpower is still valid, but noted that since Malaysia has gone for hi-tech industries, the requirement of workforce will depend on the need of the private industries.Speaking on the occasion, Morshed Khan expressed his satisfaction at the talks. He said: "We've discussed all issues, particularly about how to cooperate in agriculture, education, bio-tech, health, tourism and other areas so that we can harness the benefit and have a win-win situation."
Khan, who had a breakfast meeting with Albar, said they also discussed regional, sub-regional and international issues and about how to face together the challenges facing the two nations.
External Resources Division (ERD) Secretary Ismail Zabihullah, who led the senior official-level meeting Monday, told news agency that the Malaysian side agreed in principle to give either duty-free entry or concession to 19 categories of Bangladeshi export products.
Malaysia also agreed on Bangladesh's proposal to relocate their labour-intensive industries like textile and furniture here, which would bring both investment and create new jobs.
Meeting sources said Bangladesh would prepare a list of 26,000 Bangladeshi workforce for sending to Malaysia after studying the requirements there.
Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin told reporters that Malaysia expressed keen desire to invest in trade and service sector and wanted to import agro-based products, fruits, rice, ceramics etc.
Malaysia wants to cooperate in capacity building in agriculture research and bio-technology, setting up joint venture in tourism services and imparting training to tour guides.
He said the Malaysian side made a proposal to send its students for studying medical science in Bangladesh.
Another report adds: The two-day meeting of Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Commission (JC) concluded Tuesday without any concrete decision on manpower export from Bangladesh.Malaysian foreign minister said there were 200,000 Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia once, and now the number is 54,000. Malaysia went through an economic stagnancy in 1997 and 1998, and now a days it is going through a process of automation of industries, he said justifying the fall of Bangladeshi manpower in his country.
He said the Malaysian Prime Minister would visit Bangladesh soon on a mutually accepted date.
The next JC meeting will be held in Kuala Lumpur in 2007 while the senior officials meeting will take place in 2006.
2005-06-08
