Tuesday
21 July, 2026
News Flash
News Flash
DHAKA, July 21, 2026 (BSS) – Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today said the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) would be transformed into a strong national think tank for international trade research, trade law, economic analysis and capacity development to better safeguard the country’s future commercial interests.
He made the remarks while chairing the 63rd meeting of the BFTI Board of Directors at the institute’s conference room in the capital today.
“The changing global trading system, international markets and economic developments require in-depth research. There is no alternative to this if we are to protect Bangladesh’s long-term trade interests,” the minister said.
He said the government has undertaken a new plan to strengthen the institute and provide it with long-term strategic direction, said a Commerce Ministry press release.
“We do not have any shortage of funding. What we needed was a long-term vision, and now work has begun in that direction,” he said.
The commerce minister said BFTI would play a key role in developing skilled professionals in international trade agreements, trade regulations and legal interpretation.
He said the institute would regularly conduct research on market conditions, trade trends, potential risks and economic developments in major economies, including China, India, the United States, Canada and the European Union.
The findings of such research, he added, would support government policymaking as well as business decisions in the private sector.
Highlighting plans to introduce internationally recognised training programmes, Muktadir said BFTI would collaborate with leading global universities to offer specialised training on international trade, trade law and economic policy for government officials and private-sector representatives.
He also announced plans to establish a network of trade law experts from both the public and private sectors to strengthen Bangladesh’s institutional capacity in international trade.
The board approved the appointment of Dr Mostafa Abid Khan as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute.
The meeting was informed that the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) is carrying out a number of research and training activities aimed at strengthening the country’s trade policy and export competitiveness.
Current studies include reviews of existing trade laws and regulations, the impact of anti-export bias on export diversification, challenges relating to anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures, and opportunities to expand export markets for Bangladesh’s leather sector.
Research is also underway for the Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) on the competitive landscape of the country’s air ticketing market.
Besides, BFTI is continuing training programmes on trade policy review, Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) registration and return filing, taxation, VAT, customs procedures and import-export regulations.
The board was also informed that BFTI, in collaboration with BRAC University, is preparing to launch a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programme in International Trade and Business.
The institute is also expanding its research and capacity-building activities through partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) and the Institute of Economic Reporters Forum (IERF).
Among others, Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice-Chairman Mohammad Hasan Arif, acting BFTI Chief Executive Officer Dr Saif Uddin Ahmed and BFTI Vice-Chairman Mahbubur Rahman attended the meeting.
