Stakeholders from both public and private sectors have urged the commerce ministry to include a proposal for setting up joint testing laboratories and introducing one-stop service for investors in the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Bangladesh and India. They made the call at the 3rd stakeholder consultation meeting, organized by the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) on CEPA on Sunday through a physical and zoom platform. The meeting was solely focused on the trade in goods of the joint study, said a press release. All the stakeholders hoped that the proposed CEPA agreement will result in removing the trade barriers and enhance higher volume of trade between the two neighbouring countries.  Addressing the meeting Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh said Bangladesh’s export growth performance in the Indian market has more potential. He also highlighted that the country’s trade has been making a momentous contribution to the economic development of Bangladesh in terms of foreign exchange earnings, improving the balance of payments and faster creation of employment. Md Jafar Uddin, chief executive officer (CEO) of the BFTI chaired the event and emphasized that an effective CEPA between the two countries would not only benefit both the countries in terms of enhanced employment generation and export earnings but also would help Bangladesh identify its untapped potential for export to India. BFTI director Md. Obaidul Azam moderated the programme.  Dr Selim Raihan, lead consultant, CEPA joint feasibility study made his special remarks on the joint study at the beginning of the meeting. Mr Mahtab Uddin, sectoral consultant of the study presented the key-note presentation at the consultation meeting.High officials from public sector and private sector, business leaders, and academicians participated in the consultation meeting as stakeholders. Among others, A.H.M. Ahasan, vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Md. Hafizur Rahman, additional Secretary of ministry of commerce, Hafizur Rahman, director general of WTO Cell of the commerce ministry, Dr Md. KhairuzzamanMozumder, additional secretary, finance division, Noor Md. Mahbubul Haq, Joint Secretary, Sha Md. Abu Raihan Alberuni, member, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, Mohammad Jahangeer Kobir, Joint Secretary and Member, Bangladesh Land Port Authority and representatives from associations and chambers attended the consultation meeting. The Centre for Regional Trade (CRT) under the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has been nominated to conduct the joint study from the Government of India.

Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI), a wing of the Commerce Ministry, has tied up with CNN International Commercial (CNNIC), the US-based news channel’s commercial wing, to promote “Made in Bangladesh” products globally.   According to a statement, both the organizations signed a non-financial understanding on Wednesday to promote different export sectors of Bangladesh on the CNN network. Achieving the export-oriented growth strategy through public-private collaboration is one of the targets of the deal signed between the bodies. Also read: Electronics goods exports up 8.5 times in 9 months: EPB Bangladesh has shown resilience and kept the country's economy moving forward even as the world economy was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, BFTI said in a statement. Bangladesh's success stories need to be promoted in the global arena and campaigns themed "Made in Bangladesh"  will help reach the global audience of CNN, according to the statement. The BFTI will implement the campaign under the direct supervision of a steering committee formed by the Commerce Ministry. Also read: Speakers call for export diversification, new markets at ICAB webinar This campaign coordination and fund management will be executed by Spellbound Communications Limited, the local facilitation agency of CNN in the name of Spellbound Leo Burnett, the BFTI said. Under the 'Made in Bangladesh' campaign, CNN will develop and execute TVC, Blueprint Bespoke Editorial, Promo, Vignettes and a "Made in Bangladesh" theme week. CNN will also promote five potential export sectors as well as 10 leading export-oriented organisations within the selected sectors. BFTI chief executive officer (in-charge) Md Obaidul Azam and CNNIC director (sales) Abhijeet Dhar signed the instrument on behalf of their respective sides at BFTI office at Karwanbazar in Dhaka. As per the deal, CNN will produce television advertisements, promotional audio visuals and prepare a themed week of 'Made in Bangladesh' and others to campaign for Bangladeshi exports. The Spellbound Communications Limited, the local representative of the CNN, and the BFTI will work together to make the digital campaign a success.  

Bangladesh and India can derive immense benefits in trading  services, said speakers at a meeting on Monday as the two neighbours are working on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI), assigned to conduct Joint Feasibility Study on (CEPA) by the commerce ministry, virtually organized the second consultation meeting with the stakeholders.  The meeting focused on promoting services sectors including tourism and travel-related services, engineering services, IT and IT-Enabled Services, health-related services, construction services in Bangladesh. Also read: Joint India-Bangladesh feasibility study on CEPA gains momentum Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, Senior Secretary of Ministry of Commerce and the Chief Guest of the meeting said “Service is a vibrant driver of economic growth, employment generation, poverty elevation, and critical in sustaining export-driven growth”. He noted that “the export-driven manufacturing sector reached a new height with an average 12.7% growth, supported by the greater role of modern service sector activities in areas of transport, banking, real estate, ICT and education”.  He pointed out that the service sector’s contribution to the country’s international trade is also growing and it could facilitate the growth of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and become a key component for future growth acceleration. Md. Obaidul Azam, Chief Executive Officer (In-charge) of BFTI chaired and moderated the event. Md. Abdul Quaiyum, Sectoral Consultant of the Study presented the key-note paper.   Officials from public sectors, business leaders, academicians and representatives from different associations participated in the meeting as stakeholders. They said that like manufactured products, many services can now be traded and Bangladesh should concentrate on this to reduce the trade deficit with India.  The stakeholders expected that the proposed CEPA agreement will enhance the basis for increasing trade in other services sectors for mutual interest and ease of doing business process for trade.  Md. Jashim Uddin, President of FBCCI, Mr. Rizwan Rahman, President of DCCI, Md. Shahidul Islam, Additional Secretary (FTA Wing) of Ministry of Commerce, Dr. Selim Raihan, Lead Consultant ofthe CEPA Study, Syed Almas Kabir, President of BASIS, Rahel Ahmed, CEO of Nagad,Eng. Rabiul Alam,Director & CEO of Energypac Engineering Ltd.,  Mohammad Hatem, 1st Vice President of BKMEA (R&D Dept), Jabed Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Tourism Board and Mr. Taufiq Rahman, Director of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), etc. participated in the meeting.