Bangladesh wins Malaysia backing for its SEACO initiative

[The Ronin]

Bangladesh has won the support of Malaysia to go ahead with its planned South and South-East Asian Cooperation (SEACO) initiative which will be launched in Dhaka in June.

The foreign ministry said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, who is leading a four-member delegation to Kuala Lumpur, got the support when he met Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.

He also met World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Musa Hitam on Monday and got his support for the initiative.

SEACO is a private sector and track-II level forum of five OIC countries in the region - Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Maldives - with an objective of advancing regional economic integration.

The forum in the emergence is going to function in the model of the WIEF exclusively with the agenda of economic cooperation among the member countries and their neighborhoods.

“Bangladesh has taken the initiative and ready to host SEACO’s launching conference in Dhaka towards the end of June 2019 with expected participation of the Foreign Ministers along with the public and private stakeholders,” the foreign ministry said.

The state minister in his meeting with the Malaysian foreign minister reviewed bilateral relations.

Minister Abdullah said Bangladesh would remain “an important source of workers” for Malaysia.

https://bdnews24.com/economy/2019/0...x27D7z0Mi5v9caWKT72VkrLXFz0_A3PxESsS6K0ZBqirA

 

[Homo Sapiens]

So, it is actually happening.

These 5 Muslim countries share one common feature. None of them have any desert. I think, they should set 3 criteria to include any future member-

1.Have to be a Muslim majority country
2.Have to be in Asia.
3.Can not have any desert.

 

[Black_cats]

So, it is actually happening.

These 5 Muslim countries share one common feature. None of them have any desert. I think, there should set 3 criteria to include any future member

1.Have to be Muslim majority country
2.Have to be in Asia.
3.Can not have any desert.

Plus the countries who has vision for future not stuck in past legacies, less extremism and terrorism concern, potential for high growth as well.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

What Bangladesh has to do with Islam?

It has something to do with 90 percent of the population. And it has something to do with constitution where Islam is the state religion.

 

[Arthur]

It would be good opportunity to enter major markets in ASEAN. Good thinking. Anyway we have to wait and watch how it turns out.

 

[Bilal9]

So, it is actually happening.

These 5 Muslim countries share one common feature. None of them have any desert. I think, they should set 3 criteria to include any future member-

1.Have to be a Muslim majority country
2.Have to be in Asia.
3.Can not have any desert.

Ha ha ha

That last one cracked me up.

 

[Mamadouso]

They should also include the new autonomous Muslim region of Bangsamoro in Phillipines that has just recently been inaugurated.

 

[Bengal71]

Ha ha ha

That last one cracked me up.

LOL that one is specially crafted to avoid you know who.

 

[Bilal9]

LOL that one is specially crafted to avoid you know who.

Well Pakistan and Indonesia have a vigorous trade relationship of more than $2 Billion per year. More here,

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Pakistan Indonesia Trade volume is expected to reach $2.5 billion. A number of Pakistani parliamentarians, trade delegates and military personnel visited Indonesia recently to further enhance the bilateral relationship. The volume of bilateral trade grew from US$700 million in 2010 to $2.3 billion in 2016, an increase of 299%.

Pakistan’s major exports to Indonesia include textiles and clothing, vegetable and fruits mainly oranges while its major imports items from Indonesia is palm oil. With over $2 billion worth of imports, the balance of trade is in favor of Indonesia while the two countries are trying to strike a balance so that it can become a win-win situation for trading partners.

Indonesia imports over $550 million worth of vegetables annually. The recent economic rise of Indonesia was also example for Pakistan to follow, especially because the two countries signed the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) on February 3, 2012 which came into effect on September 2013. Under the PTA Indonesia offers market access for 223 tariff lines, of which 103 are zero-rated. Items in the preferential Trade Agreement list include fresh fruits, cotton yarn, cotton fabric, ready-made garments, fans, leather goods and other industrial products. Zero-rated market access is offered to Kinnow and oranges from Pakistan providing a level playing field to this product in the Indonesian market.

Pakistan offers to Indonesia under PTA covers 313 tariff lines that include items such as edible oil, sugar confectionery items, coca products, chemicals, kitchenware, rubber, wood, glassware and electronic products.

There is great potential for Pakistani mangoes to be exported to Indonesia besides Pakistan Indonesia Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry would be helpful to boost trade ties.

 

[mb444]

I hope this venture is successful.

BD should push malaysia for more manpower import. I was in penang last week... all tourist shops are manned by BDs. Went to mosque and it over 50% bangladeshi and they now have BD immams doing the khutba in fluent malay and bangla.... absolutely great.