By Tanzim Anwar back from Yangon
DHAKA, Feb 13, 2016 (BSS) – Direct Air connectivity between Dhaka and Yangon will usher in opportunities for Bangladeshi traders to explore untapped market of mineral rich Myanmar that remained isolated in the last 50 years due to lack of connectivity.
“It (Myanmar) is a hidden mine of business, it can be land of fortune for many Bangladeshi businessmen as Myanmar has started its new journey towards development,” Bijan Bishi, a Bangladeshi businessman living in Myanmar since last 16 years, told BSS.
Bishi who is chairman of Medcom communication of Myanmar said Bangladesh pharmaceutical companies have already secured a stronghold in the Myanmar medicine market as this gateway of the South Asia has no pharmaceuticals plant of its own.
“Presently, Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies are in fourth position in the Myanmar market followed by Thailand and Indian medicines,” said Syed Shamim Hossain, business development manager on Myanmar Operation of Beximco.
Day by Day, he said the Bangladeshi medicines are getting popular among the physicians as well as general people of Myanmar.
“Recently, we sent some local physicians to Bangladesh to visit our pharmaceuticals plants. The Myanmar doctors impressed to see that Bangladesh is producing world standard medicines,” he said.
The Bangladeshi Business leaders in Myanmar thanked direct air link between Dhaka and Yangon in expansion of Bangladesh business in Myanmar.
“Previously, we have to spend one and half day to reach Yangon via Thailand but now it takes only two hours to reach here from Dhaka,” said Director of Tex Tech Associates Tauhidur Rashid Palash.
Presently, Bangladesh Biman and private airlines Novoair are operating six flights, three for each, every week between Dhaka and Yangon.
“After launching flight by the Novoair in December last, the air fare came down and we are getting Dhaka-Yangon direct flights almost every day in the week. It’s really helping the Bangladesh businessmen to exploit the unexplored Myanmar market,” he said.
Managing Director of Bay Line Shipping PTE Limited Capt Quamruddin Ahmed laid emphasis on establishing direct shipping links, so that Bangladesh can gain maximum benefit utilizing its proximity with Myanmar.
Through sea rout, he said presently Bangladeshi goods reach Myanmar via Singapore that is time consuming and expensive. “If we can establish direct sea link with Myanmar, Bangladeshi products will get more priority here then other neighbouring countries,” he said.
Country Manager of Searle Company Limited in Myanmar Abul Kalam Azad Khan, who is living in Myanmar since last 11 years, said Myanmar is now on the road to democracy, they will develop all the systems, including smooth banking system in line with the global needs for doing business.
BRAC, the country’s leading and world’s largest NGO, has already started its operation in Myanmar. “We have already started our micro credit programme here. We are also planning to take programmes on sanitation and education here soon,” BRAC’s Maynmar country representative Faisal Bin Seraj Kazi said.
However, the business leaders think Bangladesh is yet to explore the business potential and economic cooperation with Myanmar whereas India and China advanced well ahead of Bangladesh.
They expected that the Bangladesh government through its diplomatic channel including Bangladesh mission in Yangon will play more proactive role to facilitate Bangladeshi businessman in Myanmar.
Bangladesh government can arrange single country Bangladesh trade fair in Yangon to find out more new avenues of opportunities, the expatriate Bangladeshi businessmen said.
Managing Director of Novoair Mofizur Rahman told BSS that they have launched their first ever international flight operation to Yangon realizing the Bangladesh business opportunity in Bangladesh.
“We had taken the risk as Yangon was not an established destination from Dhaka. But we have succeeded and we are committed to facilitating Bangladeshi traders to explore opportunities there through smooth flight connectivity,” he said.
The Novoair chief said they have already offered different kinds of tourism packages to the Yangon based tour operators to attract Myanmar tourists to visit Bangladesh.
The annual bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar stands at US$100 million and Bangladesh has a target of $1 billion trade between the two countries by 2020, according to the sources of Bangladesh Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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