A 50-member trade delegation from Bangladesh will be visiting Thailand to take part in the biggest business-to-business matchmaking seminar to be held in Bangkok on November 30. The delegation will be led by Abdur Rahim, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce; Makawadee Sumitmor, Ambassador of Thailand to Bangladesh; and Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTCCI) President Shams Mahmud. Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with the Commerce Ministry of Thailand and the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka jointly organised this program. The delegation visit will be the first of a series of planned visits to Thailand by Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry to make Thailand the gateway for Bangladesh to Southeast Asia and promote Bangladesh as the gateway to South Asia for Thailand, BTCCI said on Tuesday. Read: BGMEA chief for stepping up economic diplomacy to boost Bangladesh-US trade A seminar titled  “Bangladesh and Thailand: New Horizons for Trade and Investment” will also be held during this time where Dr Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange, will make the keynote presentation. Over 100 Thai companies will be participating in this event, comprising of agro, beauty and skincare, construction, light engineering, textile, aviation, hospitality, renewable energy, and fisheries sectors. During this visit, important discussions are expected to take place regarding free trade agreement between Bangladesh and Thailand along with ways to encourage FDI, joint ventures, transfer of technology, and new avenues of cooperation. Besides this, the delegation leaders will make courtesy calls on Dr. Nalinee Taveesin, Adviser to the Prime Minister and Thailand Trade Representative; Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ekachat Seetavorarat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. Read: BMCCI advocates for business-friendly environment in meeting with deputy governor of central bank Four factory visits have been arranged to showcase cutting edge technologies in garments and textile, environmental management, construction, light engineering, and agro sectors for the delegation members.

Newly appointed Thai ambassador to Bangladesh Makawadee Sumitmor has called for signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and his country to create more trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. She made the call when the Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BTCCI) paid a courtesy call on her at the Thai Embassy on Sunday. Read: Bangladesh can sign FTA with South Korea after LDC graduation: Envoy The Bilateral chamber also placed some proposals for enhancing bilateral trade and investment relationship between Bangladesh and Thailand, according to a press release. BTCCI placed some important issues including making easier business policy between the business community, working jointly for Thai Special Economic Zone in Bangladesh, including more duty free Bangladeshi products, relocating labor intensive industry in Bangladesh like woven and textile Industry and some potential industry like power & energy, light engineering, electric, food, handicrafts and other effective bilateral activities. The Thai Envoy assured the business leaders of working on all proposals of BTCCI and augment business between the two countries. Read: It's high time Bangladesh and China sign FTA with investment deal: Speakers The Thai ambassador thanked the board of Directors to come forward for the discussion of bilateral issues of Bangladesh and Thailand and emphasized on the ways and means to promote bilateral trade and investment such as signing a free trade agreement, development of ports in Thailand’s Andaman coast to shorten sea transport route to Bangladesh, and the possibility to co-organize events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. BTCCI President Mohammad Shahjahan Khan said that both countries have lots of scope of cooperation to work jointly in some important sectors like pharmaceuticals, jute and jute goods, leather, tourism & hospitality, infrastructure, agro processing, RMG, etc. “As we have huge trade gap between our countries so we should work jointly to minimize the trade gap,” he said. Read: Thai Embassy to accept visa applications from Monday FBCCI Vice President and BTCCI Former President M A Momen was present at the meeting. Engr. Rashed Maksud Khan, Founder President of BTCCI and Former President of DCCI also attended the meeting and emphasized on strengthening the already established good relationship between Bangladesh and Thailand.

M. Shahjahan Khan has been re-elected President of  Bangladesh Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTCCI) for the term 2021-2023. The annual general meeting (AGM) was held on Saturday.  Gaus Uddin Khan and Mohammed Hussain Sattar have been elected Senior Vice President and Vice President respectively along with Shamima Rahman, Director Administration, M. Salem Sulaiman, Director Finance for the same period. Read:Bangladesh elected to chair IOC Regional Committee for IOCINDIO The other newly elected Directors are Abul Kashem Khan, Jafer Ummed Khan, Md Enayet Husain, Hossain A Sikder, Md. Ahsanuzzaman, Shuchat Suntipada, Kiatkati Chaopaknam, Mohammad Junaed Ibne Ali, Zubair Hassan Chowdhury and B P Barua. M. Shahjahan Khan, the re-elected President of BTCCI, is the Chairman and Managing Director of S.S. Shipping and Chartering Limited, S.S. Builders & Developers Ltd, MSK Ship management & Chartering Ltd and Fatema Real Estate & Developers Ltd. He is a former President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), former Senior Vice President of Barisal Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also various position of some business body. Read: Bangladesh elected ILO Covid-19 Technical Committee chair Gaus Uddin Khan, Sr. Vice President is the Chairman of Moni Fashion Ltd and Assurance Development Ltd. Mohammed Hussain Sattar, Vice President is the Director of Utah Group. He is also a Director of Crest Garments Limited, Lables For Less Limited, Magnum Properties Limited and also holding various positions of some business and social organizations. The election of BTCCI was conducted by Engr. Rashed Maksud Khan, Chairman of the Election Board and former president of DCCI and BTCCI.   Read IPDC Finance Limited holds virtual AGM

Outgoing Thai Ambassador Arunrung Phothong Humphreys has said the Thai visa processing is going to be easier and quicker for Bangladeshi businessmen and other people.