Modernise FBCCI
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi yesterday asked the leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) to leave their traditional way of thinking and contribute more to trade by modernising the country's apex trade body.
Munshi made this request during a meeting at his secretariat office with a 45-member delegation of the newly elected FBCCI body led by its president, Md Jashim Uddin, according to a statement from the commerce ministry.
Bangladesh has been preparing to sign free trade agreements and preferential trade agreements with some of its major trading partners as the nation is set to graduate from a least developed country (LDC) in 2026.
The government has been forming several sub-committees to prepare for the challenges it may face after LDC graduation.
FBCCI representatives will be included in those sub-committees for their opinions to face these challenges.
"So, a trade organisation like the FBCCI should be more active in contributing towards the national interests," the minister said.
Munshi also advised the FBCCI leaders to diversify Bangladesh's list of export products as the country is highly dependent on the garment sector, which accounts for 84 percent of the total exports each year.
The commerce minister urged them to explore opportunities to export ICT products, leather and leather goods, plastic goods, jute and jute goods and light engineering goods, apart from garment items.
"We want to export merchandise worth $50 billion in the next fiscal year," he said.
Munshi sought the cooperation of all businessmen to achieve this target.
FBCCI President Jashim Uddin said the government should facilitate export of new goods and diversification of markets.
Welcoming the proposed budget, he assured of the FBCCI's readiness to help the government face the challenges of LDC graduation and achieve sustainable development goals.
Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh also spoke at the meeting.
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