Direct air connectivity between Dhaka and Yangon will usher in new opportunities for Bangladeshi traders to explore untapped market of mineral-rich Myanmar that remained isolated in the last 50 years.
“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 who has been living in Myanmar for last 16 years, told BSS. Bishi, who is chairman of Medcom communication of Myanmar, said Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals companies have already secured a stronghold in the Myanmar’s medicine market as this gateway to South Asia has no pharmaceuticals plant of its own. “Presently, Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals companies are in fourth position in the Myanmar market followed by Thailand and Indian medicines,” said Syed Shamim Hossain, business development manager of Myanmar Operation of Beximco. Day by Day, he said 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’s doctors were impressed to see that Bangladesh is producing standard medicines,” he said. The Bangladeshi business leaders in Myanmar thanked direct air link between Dhaka and Yangon, which they say will help expand Bangladesh’s business in Myanmar. “Previously, we had to spend one and a half days 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 airliner Novoair are operating six weekly flights, three for each between Dhaka and Yangon. “After launching flight by the Novoair in December last, the airfare came down and we are getting Dhaka-Yangon direct flights almost every day. It’s really helping the Bangladesh businessmen to exploit the unexplored market,” he said. Managing Director of Bay Line Shipping PTE Limited Quamruddin Ahmed laid emphasis on establishing direct shipping links, so that Bangladesh can gain maximum benefit utilising its proximity with Myanmar. Through sea route, 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 positive response here than in other neighbouring countries,” he said. Country Manager of Searle Company Limited in Myanmar Abul Kalam Azad Khan, who has been living in Myanmar for the last 11 years, said Myanmar is now on the road to democracy, they will develop all the systems, including smooth banking system to do business with rest of the world. BRAC, the country’s leading and world’s largest NGO, has already started its operation in Myanmar. “We have already started our microcredit programme here. We are also planning to launch sanitation and education programmes 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 expressed the hope that the Bangladeshi 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 its first ever international flight operation to Yangon realising business opportunity. “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.
News Link: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/02/13/15568