“There are a lot of collaboration opportunities between Bangladesh and Mauritius”

Last week, Professor Mohammad Ali Arafat, the State Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh, visited Mauritius to participate in a conference addressing the challenge of drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean. In an exclusive interview with BIZWEEK, Professor Arafat discussed the potential for strengthening trade relations between Mauritius and Bangladesh. He specifically highlighted the role of Special Economic Zones in Bangladesh, and Mauritius’ potential as a pivotal investment hub into Africa. Professor Arafat also underlined the economic and diplomatic objectives of Bangladesh, and the nation’s strategic ambitions on the international stage.

Let us start with the context of your visit to Mauritius…

First of all, this is my first time in Mauritius, and I was here to attend a ministerial conference on drug trafficking and substance use. Bangladesh being part of the Indian Ocean, we have similar challenges when it comes to drug trafficking and substance use. We received an invitation from the government of Mauritius and I have been designated by our Prime Minister to head the delegation.

Can you share your assessment of this conference? How was it?

Very good. Delegates from many countries participated, and we had two days of serious discussion on this. The best part is that the countries are facing similar problems and the objectives are also converging to the same point, which is that we need the solution to them. We have to combat drug trafficking and substance use. The only challenge was that to solve the issue, we also wanted to have a regional multilateral strategy, but for that, each of the countries should also have its own national strategy. The alignment of these two strategies is important because some of the concerns were there that the regional strategy should not overlap on the sovereign space of any country. I think this engagement and communication has been very helpful. The foundation is that the problems are similar, the objectives are also the same, and therefore it was not difficult to come to an agreement with each other. It was very fruitful.

Speaking of coming to an agreement, what are the main takeaways from this conference?

All the countries and many multilateral organisation platforms like the United Nations and others were involved. Everyone agreed that it is important to have a regional strategy. Secondly, there has also been a consensus that we need to have a kind of a communication channel between each one of the countries so that we can share information, resources and experiences. A resource observatory has also been created. Seychelles has taken the lead on this and we all welcomed the initiative. Everyone agreed to achieve the common goal and to help each other through the exchange of experience, resources and information.

Are you optimistic about it?

Very optimistic.

Trade and economic partnerships are the basis of relationships between countries. How do you see Bangladesh and Mauritius improving their trade and economic partnerships?

As it stands today, it is not very satisfactory. It is very low in terms of trade and investment engagement, but the potential is very high. This mission here helped me to understand how much potential these two countries possess. Bangladesh is also graduating as a developing country, and in the last 15 years, under the leadership of our Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has made a tremendous achievement in terms of economic development. We are also looking forward to having more cooperation with countries like Mauritius. We see Mauritius as a gateway for us to reach the African continent. We can bring in some investment here in Mauritius, and also attract investment to Mauritius.

We are also looking into trade relations with regards to pharmaceuticals, ship building, leather goods and many other products which Bangladesh can export to Mauritius. 

I have visited one of the big spinning mills and I saw many Bangladeshi workers. The owners of the factory are from China, and they spoke highly of Bangladeshi workers, their commitment and their hard work. There is a huge demand for Bangladeshi workers here, especially in the garment sector. We’ll see where else Bangladesh can contribute to send more workers and help grow the economy further.

We’re very happy to offer an exclusive economic zone for Mauritian investment and for companies from Mauritius to take advantage of the special benefits that are being offered.

Last year, at the Mauritius-Bangladesh Business Forum, a former Minister of Finance said that if we don’t have Bangladeshi people here, in our bakeries, we don’t have bread on the market. At the same time, the new CEO of Standard Chartered is a Bangladeshi professional. It is true that we have factory workers from Bangladesh, but your country also supplies high-end workers in financial services and elsewhere…

Absolutely. We have skilled workers and skilled professionals in engineering, medical science and also in the financial sector. As we engage more, we’ll see how else Bangladesh can contribute by sending the professionals. They have been contributing in many other countries outside Bangladesh with their credibility and with lots of expertise. There is scope for both. It’s not only the unskilled labour in the garment sector, but also, like you mentioned, people like the CEO who is running Standard Chartered, a multinational bank, here in Mauritius.

Does Bangladesh have an African ambition and is Mauritius part of this ambition?

Absolutely. We see Mauritius as a gateway to the African continent. Mauritius has developed a very sound financial sector. The safety and security situation has a global reputation. We also see that Mauritius has done very well in cyber security. I would say that Mauritius’ reputation, in terms of everything, is very high end. This has instilled confidence in investors all around the world. Investors and businessmen in Bangladesh would want to take advantage of this to the benefit of both countries. 

Mauritian companies are already in Bangladesh, mainly in the textile sector. In which other sectors would Bangladesh wish to welcome Mauritian companies?

This is a very good question. We have developed 100 special economic zones and we’ve been offering tax holidays, and other benefits, to foreign investors. There are companies from Japan, China, India and the U.S. that are coming in and investing. I think this is another area where the Mauritian government can look into. We’re very happy to offer an exclusive economic zone for Mauritian investment and for companies from Mauritius to take advantage of the special benefits that are being offered through this special economic zone project. 

We need to explore it a little more. The hospitality industry is an example of a sector where we can exchange and help each other, sharing our experience and expertise.

Is the health sector also an area where you would wish to deepen the trade relationship with Mauritius? 

Yes. Bangladesh is really, really good in pharmaceuticals. I had a conversation with the Honourable Foreign Minister of Mauritius and a few other ministers and officials on this. I am planning to talk to some investors in this area and see what the potential to come here and invest is.  

There is also a potential for electronic products, where Bangladesh has been doing really well. Lately, some companies with solid reputations have emerged, and they are doing really well in Bangladesh, as we have a huge domestic market. They can come to Mauritius and cater for both the local and African continent. 

We also produce lots of doctors. We have many professors, experts and teachers. There are a lot of collaboration opportunities between Bangladesh and Mauritius. 

From a diplomatic perspective, where would you like to see progress between the two countries?

Both countries are democracies, and we help each other. I really thank Mauritius for sending election observers to Bangladesh for a recent election which was held on January 7^th this year. We really appreciate the contribution of Mauritius to our electoral process. We definitely want to improve our democratic space and we want to move ahead, together, as a democracy. We have our common heritage and common culture and history. It is a deeply rooted relationship, but we need to explore more from a political, business and investment perspective.

We understand that Bangladesh would like to see a Mauritian embassy in Dhaka to facilitate the visa process for Bangladeshis coming to Mauritius, and vice versa. Can you share your views on this?

I’ve had a conversation with the Honourable Foreign Minister on this matter. For the time being, a honorary consul general from the private sector could be the solution. We have been requested to find someone suitable, and we can start off with this. Later on, at some point, we’d definitely like to have an embassy of Mauritius in Dhaka. We want to see an embassy because lots of people want to come to Mauritius, not only for business, but also for tourism and investment. We’re exploring this.  

The talks are ongoing? 

The project is making some progress, and it’s not only talks. 

Bangladesh has a newly-elected government. What is its economic ambition? 

15 years back, Bangladesh was only a 93 billion dollar economy, and it is now a 468 billion dollar one. We’re the eight largest country in the world in terms of population, and the 35^th largest country in terms of economic size. Our per capita income also grew exponentially in the last 15 years. We have huge potential. Our exports are growing, everything is growing, but we are also facing some challenges in this post-pandemic era. We have the recovery situation, but at the same time, we have the Ukraine-Russia war and what is happening in Gaza and the Middle East. It’s affecting us. 

We’re also facing some inflation-related problems like the rest of the world, but we are working on it. We should be able to meet all these challenges. We are not stagnant or stuck in some way, and we’re still moving forward. It’s slowing a little bit, but we’re finding our way out. 

And where do you see Bangladesh in 2030 or 2035?

Back in 2009, we set our goal, and our vision was to become a digital Bangladesh by 2021. We have managed to achieve this, and our goal, now, is to become a developed country by 2041, and also to turn this country into a smart Bangladesh. To go from a digital Bangladesh to a smart Bangladesh. We want to create a college-based society. We should be in the right position, I believe, by 2035. We’re trying to diversify our export basket and to grow our domestic market. We have a huge population, and we’re trying to create more skilled labour for Bangladesh.

There’s an economic shift of power from the West to the East, and you’re well placed between the two. How are you taking advantage of this? 

With the changes in geopolitics, we see some dynamism in it, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. We want to see all the political dynamics, the geopolitical dynamics, and whatever the challenges and the threats, we want to exploit that opportunity in the best interest of the people of our country. Our goal is to be friends with all, and our Prime Minister is very clear about it. We want to be friends with everyone for the welfare of the people of our country. We always believe in friendship on an equal footing, and in equality between friends with an absolutely honest heart. It’s not just for the sake of saying it. We believe in this idea, and we’re very clear in our mind about it. So diplomacy, to us, is transparency. Geopolitics, to us, is straightforwardness. Our Prime Minister has always been like that. She’s the daughter of the father of the nation, she’s very courageous, and whatever she has in her mind, she says it.

India is our largest neighbour, and the border that we share is one of the longest borders shared by any two countries in the world. The relationship with India goes back to 1971. We are the best of friends, but we have friends all over the world, and we look after our interests through our friendship with other countries. 

Do you have anything to add?

All my best wishes to Mauritius and the people of Mauritius. I really loved it here. I don’t know why I didn’t come here before. I’m going to come back here again. It’s a really peaceful and nice country. It’s not only about the land, the sea, the beaches, the lakes and trees. It’s also about people, and the people make it even more beautiful. I think the people are really beautiful here in Mauritius. 

Have you seen something here which you would like to replicate at home? 

It’s the law and order situation. The way it has been managed and maintained is fantastic. Given the size of Mauritius, it might have been easier than in Bangladesh. India and China have more people, but our population density is higher than India’s and China’s. So, we deal with something different, which is kind of a challenge. Still, there are certain things that I think we will learn from Mauritius.