DHAKA  – Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi today urged the country’s business community to cooperate the government for signing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Malaysia.

“The signing of the FTA with Malaysia requires the sincere cooperation of business community. Talks on signing the FTA with Malaysia are far ahead,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at a business launching meeting on “Opportunities and Challenges of FTA for Bangladesh” in city’s Gulsan Club.

Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) organized the meeting in conjunction with the ’20th Anniversary Celebration of BMCCI’.

BMCCI President Raquib Mohammad Fakhrul delivered the introductory remarks while Executive Director of the CPD Dr Fahmida Khatun presented the key note paper.

Chairman of the ’20th Anniversary Celebration of BMCCI’ organizing committee Syed Almas Kabir delivered the welcome speech.

In his speech, Tipu said Bangladesh has already graduated from the Least developed countries (LDCs).

“Now we have to compete with the advanced world and move ahead in business. We need to be prepared to face the challenges of graduation. We don’t have much time. We have started the work by listing the priorities for this,” he added. Raquib Mohammad Fakhrul laid emphasis on exploring potentiality considering the present economic scenario through establishing bilateral alliance.

BMCCI will expand trade and economic interaction for the benefit of, not only Bangladesh and Malaysia, but also of its trade partners, he informed.