Trade issue will dominate the third summit of head of states and governments of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to be held in Naypidaw, capital of Myanmar, on March 4, Parliament was told Tuesday.
“Trade is the number one agenda for the summit,” Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said, responding to a supplementary question of BNF MP Abul Kalam Azad.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the summit.
The Commerce Minister said that a bright prospect has emerged to enhance trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar, and the bilateral trade will continue to rise if the connectivity is ensured.
He said the process of setting up Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor is at the final stage. “Once it’s set up, trade volume will increase significantly.”
On Ticfa issue, Tofail said the government will discuss with the US about the duty-free-quota-free (DFQF) access in the US market during the first meeting of Ticfa to be held here in April.
He mentioned that many countries including the USA are yet to implement their pledges regarding DFQF market access for the least developed countries (LDCs).
On the restoration of GSP, the Commerce Minister reiterated that Bangladesh will get back the trade facilities in the US market if politics is not mixed up with the process.
Source: UNB Connect
