Exploring New Markets
14-member team to visit Russia, 4 other countries
A14-member trade delegation led by commerce secretary Mahbub Ahmed will leave Dhaka on Sunday for Russia and four other central Asian countries with a view to exploring potential of export markets.
The delegation would hold government level meetings in Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Kazakhstan during the two-week visit, commerce secretary Mahbub Ahmed told New Age on Thursday night.
Exports from Bangladesh concentrate chiefly on few markets, including the European Union and the US, with selected products, said Mahbub.
Besides the EU and the US markets, there are many potential markets that can very much be helpful for Bangladesh’s export diversification, he observed.
‘During the visit we would discuss with the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia duty free and quota free market access for Bangladeshi products under the rules of World Trade Organisation,’ added the commerce secretary.
Most of the members of the delegation have been included from the private sector while only four are government officials, including Export Promotion Bureau vice-chairman Shubhashish Bose, said Mahbub.
The Business delegation will also meet the chambers and business bodies of the respective countries, where they would discuss prospects and different tariff barriers in export of local products.
The visit is aimed to explore new destination for Bangladeshi products and Bangladesh would sign Memorandum of Understandings with respective countries if it is possible to come in a consensus with the governments and business community, said EPB vice-chairman Shubhashish.
Bangladesh’s export to Russia in the last financial year 2012-13 was $208 million, to Ukraine $3.62 million, Uzbekistan $6.51 million, Kyrgyzstan $0.29 million and to Kazakhstan $0.56million, EPB data showed.
-With New Age input
