A delegation of the apex trade body left Dhaka yesterday for three Southeast Asian nations to explore market potential.

During the business expedition, the team of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), led by its President Abdul Awal Mintoo, will hold meetings with ministers, government officials and business leaders in Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia to find ways to boost trade and investment.

The 32-member FBCCI delegation also will discuss bilateral trade promotion with their counterparts and urge them to invest in Bangladesh.

In Singapore, the FBCCI delegation will attend a seminar on 'Business Opportunities in Bangladesh cum Networking Session' at the Singapore Business Federation (SBF).

The seminar, organised by SBF in cooperation with Singapore-Chinese

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), Singapore-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and Singapore-Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI), is scheduled to begin today.

Abdul Awal Mintoo will address the inaugural function of the seminar while Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan will be the chief guest.

Singapore businessmen and investors will share their experiences with the Bangladeshi delegation on investment and trade promotion in a questionanswer session that follows the seminar.

In Singapore, the FBCCI president along with foreign minister will meet the Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry.

FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo and SBF Chairman Barry Desker will also sign a memorandum of understanding on behalf of their sides.

The FBCCI delegation will leave Singapore for Vietnam tomorrow. The business team will meet the deputy

prime minister, foreign minister, planning minister and industries minister of Vietnam in Hanoi.

The Bangladeshi business leaders will also hold meetings with Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and high officials of the socialist republic country.

In Vietnam, the FBCCI will sign a joint business council (JBC) with the VCCI. The FBCCI president and VCCI president will sign the agreement.

During the trip in Vietnam, the delegation will also visit the trade, investment and commercial centre of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City.

In the last leg of the visit, the FBCCI team will fly to Cambodia on Sunday where the delegation will hold meetings with dignitaries of Phnom Penh.

A joint cooperation agreement between FBCCI and Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) will also be signed at Phnom Penh on Monday. The FBCCI president and CCC president will sign the deal.