The entrepreneurs also showed interest to invest in SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) sector in Bangladesh.

"We are facing shortage of labour in the industrial sector of Malaysia, as the availability of foreign workers is decreasing following restrictions imposed by Malaysian government," Tan Sri Dato Soong Siew Hoong, chairman of the visiting 11-member delegation of Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), told a meeting with FBCCI in Dhaka yesterday.

He said some of Malaysian entrepreneurs are planing to relocate their units such as washing machine manufacturing plants and agriculture product manufacturing plants to Bangladesh.

Hoong said Malaysian investors are planing to invest in SME sector to produce various products to meet Bangladesh's domestic demand.

He said the investment may come in the form of joint ventures in Bangladesh.

However, Hoong said the investment and relocation process will proceed if Malaysian entrepreneurs find reasonable investment partners and business environment in Bangladesh.

Replying to a question, Hoong said, "At this moment, I don't know how much money will be invested by Malaysian entrepreneurs."

As manpower export from Bangladesh to Malaysia is totally stopped now, FBCCI (Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry) President Mir Nasir Hossain urged the delegates to discuss the issue with Malaysian government to solve the problem.

Mir Nasir said Bangladeshi workers contributed a lot to Malaysian economy in last few years.

During the period July-December of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh imported different goods worth $163.66 million from Malaysia, while it exported goods valued at only $6.15 million.