EU will support Bangladesh
Members of the European Parliament and senior officials of the European Commission have reiterated their commitment to provide necessary support to Bangladesh for a sustainable and smooth transition from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a developing country.
On Wednesday (March 29) in Brussels, the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister. They made this promise in a meeting held with a five-member delegation of Bangladesh led by Tofazzel Hossain Mia.
Bangladesh Embassy also informed in a press release that on the 50th anniversary of the partnership of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) in 2023, members of the European Parliament and senior officials of the European Commission have praised the unprecedented development of Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh delegation met with European Parliament Vice President and GSP Regulation Rapporteur Heidi Hautla, International Trade Committee (INTA) Chair and European Parliament member Bard Lange and INTA South Asia Monitoring Group Rapporteur and European Parliament member Maximilian Krah. The Bangladesh delegation also held meetings with European External Action Service Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Issues, Helena Koenig, and Acting Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, Paola Pampaloni.
The Bangladesh delegation highlighted the fact that Bangladesh has achieved unprecedented socio-economic development and changed the quality of life of millions of people through appropriate use of the EU's 'Everything But Arms' trade facility. Apart from trade diversification, the delegation also highlighted Bangladesh's emphasis on achieving greater sustainability/sustainability through circular economy, conservation of biodiversity and increased use of renewable energy and green technologies.
They also said that Bangladesh, as a highly vulnerable country due to climate change, has formulated its own climate adaptation and mitigation plan.
Due to the ongoing external instability in the global economy, food and energy crisis and instability in the international financial markets, the Bangladesh delegation requested the European Union to provide strong support to the World Trade Organization in the negotiations to continue the International Support Measures (ISM) for another six years after Bangladesh's transition from LDC status.
Bangladesh has also requested protection of Bangladesh's trade interests, especially the garment sector, in the new GSP under discussion by the European Union. A mechanism under Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence is also requested to ensure accountability of relevant companies by emphasizing fair pricing and responsible business behavior on behalf of companies and brands.
The European Union commends Bangladesh for its unique humanitarian role in providing shelter to more than one million Rohingya forcibly displaced from Myanmar for over five years.
The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister is on a three-day visit to Brussels along with members of the public and private sectors. The delegation is led by Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Farooq Hasan, Business Initiative Leading Development (BILD) President Nihad Kabir and Bangladesh Employers Federation Secretary General and CEO Farooq Ahmed. Mahbub Hasan Saleh, the head of the mission of Bangladesh to the European Union, along with the relevant officials of the embassy, participated in the meeting.
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