Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has launched the "Bangladesh Trade Facilitation," a new agriculture and economic development project funded by the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service. US Ambassador Earl R Miller joined the minister at the inaugural ceremony held at a Dhaka hotel Wednesday. Tipu emphasised the government's "commitment to ensuring self-sufficiency in food production, supplying safe and nutritious food as well as commercialising the agriculture sector, making it a profitable venture for poor farmers." Noting the investment from the American people, Ambassador Miller, in turn, confirmed the US government's support for Bangladesh's reform measures and promotion of a business-friendly trade environment. "This project will facilitate and incentivise investment, construction, and the operation of new cold storage facilities to improve and expand on Bangladesh's refrigerated logistics network," Miller added. Also read: Bangladesh-Bhutan Dialogue held in Bumthang to promote trade, investment

Commerce minister Tipu Munshi on Thursday hoped that the economy of the country will bounce back at the end of the year as some export products see good demand in the global market amid the COVID-19 pandemic.