Bangladesh has immense potential to significantly boost exports of both goods and skilled services to Malaysia by upgrading its halal product standards and investing in workforce training, the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI).

Speaking at a press briefing held Tuesday at a hotel in Banani, BMCCI President Shabbir Ahmed Khan highlighted that Malaysia’s halal market is projected to reach $113 billion by 2030, presenting a strategic opportunity for Bangladesh to capture up to $13 billion in exports if Bangladesh improves the quality and certification of its halal products.

“Currently, Bangladesh lacks a recognised halal certification body. Neither the Islamic Foundation nor BSTI has international compliance for halal certification. This gap is costing us market access,” Khan said, urging the government to establish a credible, internationally accepted halal certification authority.

He noted a worrying trend in bilateral trade, which has declined in recent years. Bangladesh’s exports to Malaysia dropped from $375 million to $300 million annually, while Malaysian exports to Bangladesh fell from $5 billion to $3 billion.

However, recent developments offer renewed hope. The visit of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to Malaysia has reinvigorated trade momentum, Khan said, adding that several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed during the trip have opened new doors for cooperation.

Skilled labour export: A new frontier

BMCCI emphasised that beyond goods, Bangladesh can become a major supplier of skilled human capital to Malaysia. The Malaysian government aims to strengthen its semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors, requiring 60,000 engineers by 2030. Domestic institutions can supply only 15,000, leaving a gap of 45,000 professionals to be filled from abroad, primarily from Asian nations.

“Bangladesh can fill this gap,” said Khan. “By improving the quality of engineering education and aligning curricula with industry needs, we can export high-value talent to Malaysia.”

Malaysia currently exports $121 billion worth of goods annually and plans to triple this figure by 2030, fueling demand for skilled manpower across its manufacturing ecosystem.

G2B MoUs signed to boost tech cooperation

In a landmark move, BMCCI announced the signing of historic MoUs with MIMOS (Malaysia’s national R&D center in ICT) and ASEM (Asia-Silicon Valley Exchange & Mentorship), marking the first-ever government-to-business (G2B) agreement between Bangladesh and Malaysia in the 53 years since diplomatic relations began.

These agreements focus on semiconductor innovation, technology transfer, and talent development, paving the way for joint training programmes, research collaboration, and startup partnerships.

“Despite our limited footprint in semiconductors today, we cannot afford to miss this high-growth, high-value sector,” said Khan. “The global semiconductor market is expected to surpass $3 trillion by 2030 and Bangladesh must position itself to be part of this revolution.”

BMCCI has been promoting Bangladesh-Malaysia trade and investment for over two decades. With strategic initiatives, high-level networking, and now formal MoUs, the chamber aims to transform the bilateral relationship into a technology and talent-driven economic partnership.

“This is not just about trade, it’s about co-developing industries, building skills, and integrating Bangladesh into global high-tech supply chains,” Khan concluded.

Source: UNB