Chief Adviser calls on Malaysian businesses to Invest in Bangladesh

On Tuesday, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus urged Malaysian investors to seize the expanding business prospects in Bangladesh, stressing that the nation is undergoing transformative reforms to foster a more investment-friendly environment.

Speaking at the Bangladesh–Malaysia Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Professor Yunus outlined the interim government’s measures to improve the investment climate, such as easing trade restrictions and promoting greater economic openness. “Business in Bangladesh did not advance as it should have in the past,” he said. “But in this new Bangladesh, many opportunities are opening up—and business is among the most promising.”

He highlighted Bangladesh’s young and creative workforce as a prime attraction for foreign investors and encouraged Malaysian companies to leverage both local talent and the capabilities of the global Bangladeshi diaspora. “Our young people abroad are eager to contribute to the nation’s development,” he added.

The forum began with a presentation from Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), who outlined the country’s competitive advantages and ongoing efforts to remove tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.

Vivek Sood, CEO and Managing Director of Axiata Group—the majority shareholder of leading Bangladeshi telecom operator Robi—shared insights from the group’s 28 years of growth and collaboration in Bangladesh.

The event was attended by prominent Malaysian business leaders, including Tengku Muhammad Taufik, President and Group CEO of Petronas; Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional; senior representatives from Sime Darby Plantations, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK), IOI Corporation, and Felda Global Ventures (FGV); Syed Faisal Albar, Chairman of Proton Holdings Berhad; and Lim Wee Chai, Executive Chairman of Top Glove Corporation.

Earlier in the day, the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Putrajaya, marking a new chapter in bilateral economic cooperation.