"Since Bangladesh will continue to enjoy preferential export facilities as an LDC for a few more years, foreign investors can avail of the facilities," he told a function in Dhaka.

The minister was addressing the launching ceremony of a book titled "Proceedings of Business Sessions of the First Bangladesh-Malaysia Business Forum- 2004" organised by Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI).

Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Abdul Malek bin Abdul Aziz and BMCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad also spoke while former BMCCI president Salahuddin Kasem Khan gave an overview of the book.

Morshed Khan said global consumers are gradually getting familiar with Bangladeshi products such as RMG, seafood, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, leather and leather products.

He expressed satisfaction that the private sector interaction between the two countries has increased in recent years.

On the people-to-people contact between the two countries, he said about 30,000 Bangladeshi tourists visited Malaysia last year while a huge number of students are studying there.

He said the Bangladeshi people, particularly businessmen, look for Malaysian investment in areas such as tourism, trade, investment.

The minister noted that a large number of Bangladeshi semiskilled and unskilled manpower are employed in Malaysia, contributing immensely to the growth and development of both Malaysia and Bangladesh.

He thanked the Malaysian government for resuming recruitment of manpower from Bangladesh and urged the trade body to keep an eye on the recruitment process so the poor workers are not cheated.