Bangladesh, Switzerland discuss ways to boost trade, economic cooperation
The commerce secretary hoped that Switzerland, like the EU, would give preferential market access to Bangladesh
Bangladesh and Switzerland officials have discussed ways to enhance trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The issues came up during the second inter-agency committee meeting at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
Commerce Secretary Md Zafar Uddin said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's efforts had kept the economy of the country running and the flow of export was continuing. "Bangladesh will come out of the list of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) and become into a developing nation by 2024."
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Last year, the European Union adopted a policy of giving preferential market access to Bangladesh for a few more years, he said.
"We hope that Switzerland will also give preferential market access to Bangladesh under the same policy," he added.
The commerce secretary further said there was a possibility to boost trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. "It will be possible to increase that in the future."
In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh exported goods worth $106.67 million to Switzerland, while importing goods worth $288.47 million from there.
"If we take initiatives that will include the private sector, both countries will be benefitted," Zafar added.
The commerce secretary led Bangladesh while Erwin Bollinger, head of Switzerland's Bilateral Economic Relations Division in Dhaka, headed the discussion on behalf of Switzerland.
