OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER TO THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
4 OCTOBER 2024

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim will undertake an Official Visit to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on 4 October 2024, at the invitation of Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Nobel-laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hassan; Minister of International Trade and Industry Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Haji Hasbi Bin Haji Habibollah; and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Dr Zulkifli bin Hasan.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government for a bilateral meeting to discuss relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh, and to renew ties of friendship between the two countries. The Prime Minister is also expected to pay a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin before departing for Kuala Lumpur later that same evening.

As at the end of 2023, there were 6,288 Bangladeshi students pursuing various disciplines in Malaysia’s institutions of higher education. Bangladesh workers have also contributed significantly to Malaysia’s economic development throughout the years.

In 2023, Bangladesh was Malaysia’s 27th largest trading partner, 19th largest export destination and 47th largest import source. Bangladesh is Malaysia’s 2nd largest trading partner among the South Asian countries.

In 2023, Malaysia and Bangladesh’s total trade amounted to RM12.7 billion (USD2.78 billion), a decrease of 35.5% from RM19.69 billion (USD4.46 billion) in 2022. Trade expanded in the first six months of 2024, and registered an increase of 18.1% to RM8.27 billion (USD1.75 billion) compared with the same period in 2023. The balance of trade, which is in Malaysia’s favour, also increased significantly in the same period to RM6.65 billion (USD1.39 billion).

PUTRAJAYA
3 October 2024