Work together
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for working together to harness D-8 countries' potential to become a powerful economic block.
She also placed a five-point proposal that included implementing preferential trade agreement (PTA) among the member states to maximise use of business prospects and opportunities to double the intra-D-8 trade from 129 billion dollars in the next decade.
She was virtually addressing the 20th D-8 Council of Ministers held at a city hotel, joining from Gono Bhaban, reports BSS.
She expressed her happiness as Bangladesh is celebrating the 25th anniversary of D-6 as chair of the organisation.
The premier said implementing the Preferential Trade Agreement will help harmonise the intra-country trade, liberalise the barriers, and stimulate trade and economic cooperation among the member states.
She expressed her satisfaction as chamber representatives, business people, entrepreneurs from different member states have participated in the 2nd D-8 CCI General Assembly and in the Business Expo on the sidelines of the ministerial session.
"While we were all reeling from the aftermath of the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has pushed the world in a fresh danger," she said.
The conflict and, the subsequent sanctions and counter-sanctions have disrupted the production and supply of food, fertiliser, energy and power, and other commodities, she added.
The premier said countries like Bangladesh have been bearing the brunt of the impacts of the war.
"We should all come forward to bravely address this looming humanitarian crisis," she added.
She also said Bangladesh is ready to provide space at the Special Economic Zones for investment by the member states.
The PM said the ICT is an area that has immense prospects. The youths of the D-8 countries can be turned into formidable workforce.
She also said the D-8 should concentrate on diversified agriculture production to ensure food security and steady food supply.
All the D-8 member states should be careful about energy usage and the necessity of alternate energy sources, she said. "I propose that the D-8 focuses on developing capacity by involving other countries who have expertise in alternate energy," she added.
D-8, also known as Developing-8, is an organisation for development cooperation among the following countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkiye.
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