Tofail hopes to reap trade benefit out of the agreement
A team from the United States would visit Bangladesh by April to have discussion on the follow up of Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa) Bangladesh signed with its biggest importing country last year.
“The government already had talks with the US administration for holding a meeting,” Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told reporters, after a meeting with The Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh Gerben De Jong at his secretariat office yesterday.
“We’re hopeful that Bangladesh would also reap trade benefits from signing the Ticfa as we may get duty-free and quota-free access of our products to the US market also due to the WTO’s Bali declaration,” he said, replying to a question.
Tofail also pointed out his plan to diversify markets for Bangladeshi products in the international market. He said the government would set up more commercial wings in its diplomatic missions abroad, where there has been no wing.
“This is to explore untapped markets for Bangladeshi products across the world.”
Putting more emphasis on exploring new markets as well as diversified export basket, the minister said: “We will definitely put more focus on the unexplored countries, especially of Africa and Latin America as part of our bid to explore new markets.”
In response to a query relating to the target missed by Bangladeshi missions abroad, the minister said: “It is still a good news for us that we have achieved more than 3% of our strategic export target despite the failures of our diplomatic missions abroad.’’
He gave all the credits to the businessmen for the overall success in achieving the export target despite all odds.
Meanwhile, Tofail urged the Netherlands government to allow import of Bangladeshi produced cut-flowers in its unexplored huge potential market.
“We have urged the Dutch envoy to import cut-flower from Bangladesh as we are now looking forward for the expansion of the existing market with our diversified products,” he said.
In response, Dutch Ambassador Gerben De Jong said commercial ties between the two countries are very good and the private sectors of both countries have played a pivotal role in further improving business relations.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the Dutch envoy said his government would provide room for different Bangladeshi products in the market of the European country.
In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh exported goods worth $712m to the Netherlands market, while Bangladesh imported goods worth $137m from the country.
Source: Bd news24
