NEW BANGLADESH COMMERCIAL OFFICE: MUCH A-BUZZ

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000681

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2014
TAGS: PREL ETRD BM BG
SUBJECT: NEW BANGLADESH COMMERCIAL OFFICE: MUCH A-BUZZ
ABOUT NOTHING?

Classified By: DCM Ronald K. McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (SBU) Pol/Econ Officers paid a courtesy call on newly
arrived Bangladesh Commercial Counselor Mohammed Aftabuzzaman
on May 13, 2004. Aftabuzzaman has been charged with opening
a commercial office and increasing bilateral trade between
Burma and Bangladesh, which he characterized as currently
insignificant. Existing trade is focused on pharmaceuticals
and agricultural products, although Aftabuzzaman had no
Bangladesh statistics on trade volume, claiming that the
numbers were in Dhaka but had not been sent to him. As a
result, Aftabuzzaman had spent his first several weeks
in-country trying to collect statistical information,
observing that the GOB seemed reluctant to share any customs
and trade data, and that his meetings with various
ministries/departments had not resulted in needed
information. Aftabuzzaman seemed perplexed by what he
described as the GOB,s "reserve" about sharing basic
information.


2. (SBU) When questioned about near-term plans, Aftabuzzaman
suggested that the first meeting of a joint trade commission
might be held, but that a date and venue had not been
determined; a visit by the new Bangladesh Commerce Minister
also was a possibility. Aftabuzzaman indicated that a trade
fair that had been scheduled for March was canceled due to
lack of interest on the part of Bangladeshi businessmen, but
had little else to offer on this topic. Aftabuzzaman said a
future trade fair was possible, although nothing was being
planned currently. Aftabuzzaman found it difficult to
identify current obstacles to more vigorous bilateral trade
between Bangladesh and Burma, again commenting on his
difficulty in getting customs and other data from his own and
the Burmese government.


3. (C) Comment: This is Aftabuzzaman,s, a career Ministry
of Finance auditor, first overseas assignment. He seems to
have been set adrift by his own government, arriving here
with little in the way of marching orders and background, and
is now confronting yet another impasse as he seeks to engage
with host-country officials to collect trade data. End
comment.
Martinez