Take enough preparations to protect Bangladesh's interests: CPD

Bangladesh should undertake adequate preparation and be actively involved in agenda-building and negotiations in the context of upcoming ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation, said the Centre for Policy Dialogue yesterday.

“There is a need for more informed understanding about Bangladesh's key interests in the context of the upcoming 11th WTO ministerial conference,” it said. 

“Bangladesh should focus on strategic coalition building and be actively engaged to make trade work for its economic development.”

The comments were shared at the Policy Appreciation Workshop on International Trade Issues and Bangladesh Interests, organised by the think-tank at the Brac Centre Inn auditorium in Dhaka.

Twenty-six professionals, including government officials, development practitioners, academics, researchers and journalists took part in the workshop.

Debapriya Bhattacharya, a distinguished fellow of the CPD, shared his interpretation of the emerging global scenario and what that means for Bangladesh.

He put emphasis on the need for proactive engagement in the ongoing discussions backed by adequate homework.

Prof Mustafizur Rahman, also a distinguished fellow of the think-tank, said Bangladesh should make best use of the window of opportunity as a least developed country in the WTO, and at the same time, build the country's supply-side capacities to integrate into the global economy from a position of competitive strength.

He argued in support of concrete decisions at the ministerial conference towards operationalisation of WTO decisions on duty-free quota-free market access and services waiver for LDCs.

CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun stressed strengthening of supply-side capacity by deepening regional cooperation in order to take advantage of various preferential treatments accorded to Bangladesh in the WTO.