Say foreign diplomats at DCCI meet
Foreign diplomats on Saturday said that Bangladesh should diversify its exportable products to tap significant share of the export market taking advantages of duty-free market access and other factors in different countries. At a roundtable discussion organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, they also suggested that the country should increase trade links with potential countries, strengthen the role of Bangladesh missions, develop tourism sector, create own products’ brand name and improve its overall image abroad to increase export.
The DCCI held the roundtable discussion ‘improving exports: importing country’s perspective’ at its auditorium in the city.
The foreign diplomats based in Bangladesh suggested that the government should ensure quality of products, worker rights in industries, and enhance business contact with importing countries.
Iraqi ambassador Shakir Qasim Mahdi said in the post-war period Iraq still remained dependent on import to meet its consumers’ demands and Bangladesh held a huge opportunity to enter in the market with its products and services.
‘We now look for enhancing trade relations between the two countries as unfortunately there is hardly any bilateral trade connection between them,’ he said adding that Bangladesh held a good chance to export products including pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, ceramics, readymade garment and other items to Iraq.
Iraq is going through massive development activities and so Bangladesh should consider the country as a potential destination for its goods and services, he said.
He also urged Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to visit his country to see potentials of export and investment.
Sri Lankan high commissioner WA Sarath K Weragoda said that Bangladesh should sign a free-trade agreement or a preferential trade agreement with Sri Lanka to increase bilateral trade.
Despite huge potential, trade volume between the two countries is significantly small which can be improved by using existing shipping and air connectivity, he said.
Bangladeshi exporters can also reduce their lead time in export by using three modern ports of Sri Lanka as transshipment points, he added.
Turkey’s commerce councillor in Bangladesh embassy Tulay Uyanik said that Bangladesh should go for diversifying products, producing value-added products, increasing production capacity, ensuring labour rights and political stability, and improving working condition for RMG workers to get expected share in the export market.
She also suggested developing transport system including modernising Chittagong port and expanding Dhaka-Chittagong highway for improving efficiency in export.
Along with the export of the existing RMG items, jute and jute products, leather and leather products and ceramics, Bangladeshi exporters can enter in the Turkey market with processed foods and home textile.
Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency senior manager Faruk Ahmed said that the Bangladeshi agencies and mission might promote the national strengths in trade to get a considerably bigger market share in Korea particularly for RMG and leather products.
He suggested that the Bangladesh mission in Korea should maintain a database of potential buyers of the Bangladeshi products in the country (Korea) to facilitate Bangladeshi exporters.
He also said that Bangladesh could jointly organised workshops, seminars, business to business contact with the help of KOTRA and Korean Importers Association.
Australia Trade Commission in Dhaka country manager Minhaz Chowdhury said Bangladeshi exporters could take the opportunity of seasonal factor between Australia and Europe and the USA and could offer competitive rate for Australia during off-season.
At the discussion, DCCI president Mohammad Shahjahan Khan and vice-presidents Osama Taseer and Kh Shahidul Islam spoke, among others.
-With New Age input
