Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Heather Cruden on Saturday said that Bangladesh would not be affected by the Canadian government’s move for revising the General Preferential Tariff scheme as the country was eligible for duty-free access as a least developed country.
At a seminar on ‘Bangladesh-Canada Trade and Economic Relations’ at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital, the envoy said that the LDCs’ Rules of Origin requirements would be amended so that apparel producers could continue reaping benefits in Canada when using textile inputs from current GPT enjoying countries like China and India.
The seminar was jointly organised by the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association.
Despite the weakening global economy, Canada imported goods worth $462 billion from all over the world in 2012 while Bangladesh contributed to just over $1.12 billion of the amount, the envoy said.
She suggested the Bangladesh government should develop a policy and environment conducive to developing products and markets, both traditional and non-traditional.
Mentioning tragic incidents like the collapse of Rana Plaza and the fire at Tazreen Fashions, Cruden expressed her concern over the working condition in the readymade garment sector. She stressed the need for taking concrete measures to ensure occupational safety.
‘Bangladesh has made strong progress in various areas, but the current political instability is causing some companies to question whether they should diversify their risks and move out of Bangladesh,’ she also said, adding that this could be very damaging for Bangladesh.
Commerce minister GM Quader said that despite frequent political unrests, the export earnings in the first month of this financial year had witnessed about 30 per cent jump, which proves that most of the Bangladeshi producers made shipments to the importers by the promised time.
Urging more foreign direct invest from Canada, the commerce minister said that the foreign investors would be protected here as Bangladesh needed more FDI.
Commerce secretary Mahbub Ahmed urged global buyers to realise the situation and stay with Bangladesh.
‘If any buyer or brand shuts down their business in Bangladesh, it’s the poor people and the workers who would be affected,’ he added.
The government will extend all out support to the foreign retailers who had chalked out action plans to ensure safety in Bangladesh’s RMG sector, said the commerce secretary.
He also urged the Canadian government to help Bangladesh ensure workplace safety.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Atiqul Islam thanked Canadian company Loblaw for deciding to continue their business in Bangladesh.
BFIT chief executive officer Mozibur Rahman, International Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mahbubur Rahman and former commerce secretary Sohel Ahmed Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.
-With New Age input
