Bangladesh’s ambassador to Thailand, Saida Muna Tasneem, said that in view of the good relations with Thailand, the embassy would host the expo for the first time here.

Thai Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn and Bangladeshi Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed will co-chair the event, which will take place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

“More than 50 Bangladeshi manufacturers and service enterprises that export goods and services to Europe and North America will join the expo to seek trading and investment opportunities in Thailand and Asean,” Tasneem said, adding that Thailand has strong potential to be a gateway to other Asean countries.

At the expo, Bangladesh will present its special economic zones and bring members of the Board of Investment and the Board of Export Promotion to woo investors from Thailand.

The ambassador said Bangladesh was considering special privileges for Thai investors.

Industries in which Thailand and Bangladesh could form closer cooperation and promote joint investment are garment and clothes, pharmaceuticals and medical products, ceramic and tiles, kitchenware, furniture, leather and footwear, energy and alternative energy, electronic and electric appliances, ICT and software, silk, handicraft and home decorative items, tourism, food and beverages, frozen food, organic tea, hospital and medical services, chemical products, cosmetics, jewellery and ornaments, machinery and engineering equipment, and automobile and parts.

According to a survey last year by the Japan External Trade Organisation, Bangladesh has been rated as the country that generates the highest return on investment in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors compared with other countries in Asia and Oceania. Bangladesh offers labour at a competitive cost and the cost of energy is low, as is the cost of production. Many Thai investors could do business in the country.

So far, Thai interests have invested in 96 projects for combined initial value of US$605 million (Bt23 billion) in Bangladesh. Of these, 48 projects are 100 per cent owned by Thais, and the rest are joint ventures between Bangladeshi and Thai investors.

Thai investments are in the poultry industry, fishing, electronics, processed food, and utility development, including the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.