DHAKA, Oct 4, 2018 (BSS) – Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed today urged the European Union to provide Generalised Scheme of Preferences or GSP plus trade facilities for Bangladesh after 2027.
The minister made this appeal while participating in the “4th European Union (EU)-Bangladesh Business Climate Dialogue” at commerce ministry’s conference room here.
Bangladesh will be graduated to a developing country from the least developed country (LDC) status by 2024 and the country will enjoy the GSP till 2027, he said.
He said the EU is providing GSP facilities to Bangladesh under everything but arms (EBA) arrangement.
The minister urged the EU for providing GSP plus facilities after 2027, as these are being currently given to Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Side by side, he also urged the EU countries to invest in Bangladesh taking advantage of its suitable investment environment.
Terming the EU as our big export market, he said, “Around 52 per cent of our export goes to EU.
Focusing on Bangladesh’s favourable investment climate, the minister said, “We can give an Economic Zone for the EU countries if they want to invest in the country.”
Head of Delegation of the EU and EU Ambassador Mrs Rensje Teerink, French Ambassador Ms Marie-Annick Bordin, German Deputy Head of Mission Michael Schultheiss, Netherlands Ambassador Harry VerweijD, Spanish Ambassador Alvaro de Salas Glamenez de Azcarate, Danish Ambassador Ms Winne Estrup Petersen, Swedish Ambassador Ms Charlotta Schlyter and British Ambassador in Charge Khanbar Hossein-Bor, among others, were present.