DCCI Calls for Faster FTAs, Stronger Trade Diplomacy

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Taskeen Ahmed on Tuesday urged the government to expedite the signing of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with key trading partners and strengthen economic diplomacy to help Bangladesh remain competitive after graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.

He made the call during a courtesy meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

According to a DCCI press release, Taskeen said the Foreign Ministry should play a more proactive role in facilitating trade agreements with countries offering strong export and investment opportunities.

He stressed the need to diversify both export products and export destinations to address post-LDC challenges, noting that Africa, South America and Southeast Asia offer significant potential for expanding Bangladesh's trade and investment.

The DCCI president also called for stronger economic diplomacy and proposed simplifying direct payment mechanisms to facilitate bilateral trade and investment with African countries, particularly in contract farming, information technology and agriculture.

Shama Obaed Islam said the government remains committed to pursuing trade agreements that would strengthen bilateral trade and investment with African countries and other promising markets.

She said closer collaboration between the government and the private sector would be vital to improving trade performance and enhancing Bangladesh's global economic engagement.

The state minister identified jute and jute products, leather and leather goods, pharmaceuticals, fruits and ceramics as Bangladeshi products with strong export potential in African markets and encouraged businesses to explore those opportunities more actively.

She also underscored the importance of strengthening the private sector's capacity to meet post-LDC challenges through export diversification and market expansion.

DCCI Senior Vice-President Razeev H Chowdhury, Vice-President Md Salem Sulaiman, Acting Secretary General Dr A K M Asaduzzaman Patwary, and Director General (International Trade, Investment and Technology Wing) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Syed Muntasir Mamun also attended the meeting.