Bangladesh and European Union (EU) Business Council in Bangladesh will jointly organise “EU –Bangladesh business climate dialogue” to discuss business barrier and devise solutions to the hindrances.
The dialogue will be held on May 12 in Dhaka, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said.
The minister briefed the reporters after a meeting with European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon at the secretariat on Thursday afternoon.
Tofail said: “EU is the largest export destination of Bangladeshi products. So we will hold the dialogue to extend our export.”
“Our parliament gave guarantee for the foreign investors to do business smoothly in our country. They can return their investment with profit to their country at any moment,” he added.
Their investment is fully protected by the parliament, he noted.
The investment friendly law is very much attractive to the foreign investors as well as we established special economic zone so that foreigners can investment, he added.
Tofail described the discussion with EU ambassador was very important and became fruitful as both side agreed to hold the dialogue.
Commerce minister said EU helped Bangladesh to develop the RMG sector as they provide duty and quota free access of Bangladeshi products to their markets except arms.
On only that they also give Bangladesh generalised system of preference (GSP) facilities to their markets, he said.
About the recent security issue at the airport he said that Bangladesh and United Kingdom will resolve the problem jointly.
However, he acknowledged that export particularly vegetable item to EU slightly hampered as the exporters can not use air cargo for shipment.
On a question regarding GSP facilities from the USA the commerce minister responded angry voice saying it was not possible to satisfy the USA.
“We improved the environment of industries a lot, fulfilled compliance, allowed workers welfare association in the exports processing zones as like as labour union system,” he said adding “How much we have to improve to get GSP from them?”
Pierre Mayaudon said they will encourage the EU business community invest in Bangladesh and asked to consider Bangladesh as prime destination for investment.
He mentioned that an European companies has been selected to investment in a mega project Banglabandhu Satellite-1.
Gradually EU companies are interested to increase their investment in Bangladesh, EU ambassador said.
Senior secretary of commerce ministry Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun, president of Spain Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nuria Lopez were present in the briefing. – Staff Reporter
