Dr Alok Roy, President, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited Malaysia on 13th and 14th July 2015 to meet Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Malaysia International Chamber of Commerce. He was accompanied by Ms. Angana Guha Roy Chowdhury, Assistant Director, The Bengal Chamber.
Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber was represented by Dato’ Kanagaraja Raman, Deputy President who is also the President of Malaysia-India Chamber of Commerce. Other senior members of Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber were also present. Malaysia International Chamber of Commerce was represented by Datuk Wira Jallah Baba, President, Mr. Stewart Forbes, Executive Director and other senior members of the Secretariat.
The abovementioned Chambers of Commerce conveyed their confirmation to work together with The Bengal Chamber to facilitate bilateral business.
They were briefed about the Chamber’s historical legacy, West Bengal’s geo-strategic positioning and The Bengal Chamber’s bandwidth in the Eastern and North Eastern Regions of India and countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar through the creation of the Confederation of Eastern Chambers of Commerce and Industry spearheaded by The Bengal Chamber. They were apprised about the Chamber’s newest initiative of the City of Analytics, which the Chamber has embarked on with the Government of West Bengal and is reaching out to the investors in international and domestic markets. They were also informed about the India International Mega Trade Fair, which the Chamber organizes annually with G S Marketing Associates.
The following areas of possible collaborations emerged from the discussions:
1. Both the Chambers are willing to work with The Bengal Chamber in making available the furniture products of Malaysia in India.
1.1 Both the Chambers showed interest in areas of Trade Fairs and Exhibitions. Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce mentioned that they were willing to participate in the India International Mega Trade Fair with their furniture and other products. They may also explore the possibility of organizing a stand-alone Furniture Exposition with The Bengal Chamber at a later stage.
2. Organizing Business Delegations were of interest to both the Chambers.
3. Malaysia International Chamber of Commerce proposed to bring a golfers’ delegation to Malaysia. This may be marketed in Kolkata/Eastern India and also in Bangladesh and Bhutan as golf tourism. B2B meetings may be organized as a part of it.
4. Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce invited The Bengal Chamber to participate, with a delegation, and nominate speakers in the ‘Smart Cities India International Conference and Exhibition’ on 29th and 30th September 2015 in Sunway International Convention. The Conference is being organized to bring together the ASEAN Investors for investment in the proposed Smart Cities of India.
5. Malaysia International Chamber of Commerce requested The Bengal Chamber to keep them informed about the various programmes organized by the latter. This would be followed for both Malaysian International Chamber and Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber.
6. Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber also enquired whether the link of their website could be created in The Bengal Chamber’s website and vice-versa. They were informed that the same was possible.
7. Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber also sought Dr. Roy’s help towards a programme on ‘Infectious Disease’ to be held in Malaysia.
Meetings were also held with Putrajaya International Convention Centre. PICC was created and managed by the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia to promote business. This is now an autonomous body. The meeting with Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber was held in PICC. The meeting was also joined by President, Malaysia-Libya Chamber of Commerce. Malaysia-Libya Chamber is under Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber. Malaysia Asia Pacific Chamber would provide connectivity to the other countries in Asia as well.
A three-member delegation led by Dato’ Kanagaraja Raman visited Kolkata exclusively to meet The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 25th July 2015 to discuss and finalize the agenda discussed between the two Chambers.