Aiming at increasing trade with European Union (EU), Bangladesh will soon form a ‘business council’ with European countries to help boost trade and investment ties with the European Union (EU), commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said. The council will be constituted with eight European countries’ envoys in Bangladesh and representatives from the ministries concerned, he also said. “Incorporating representatives from the private sector in the Business Council will be scrutinised,” Tofail told reporters at the Secretariat after his meeting with the visiting delegation of the European Parliament (EP). “This council will complement the bilateral activities of the EU member states and their chambers of commerce which are also engaged in trade promotion,” the minister said. “We believe that the Council will support the EU in its trade and investment related discussions with the private sector, Government of Bangladesh and other stakeholders to strengthen the economic relations.” Eight EU countries namely UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands – which have missions in Dhaka, are the members of the business council along with their bilateral chambers of commerce with Bangladesh, commerce minister said. A 10-member parliamentary delegation led by member of the European Parliament Jean Lambert met with commerce minister at secretariat yesterday. Tofail informed that the EU delegation enquired about the trade union in export processing zones. In replying to EU delegation Tofail said they formed workers welfare association (WWA) as like as trade union in EPZs. The workers and owners in EPZs are happy with WWA, Tofail said. “The delegation showed their interest to invest in Bangladesh after learning all investment facilities, rules and regulations on tax,” he said. Tofail also said they discussed about the position after moving into mid income country. “The EU has an alternative way and they provide GSP plus facilities to other countries. We have a plan after post moving into developing country,” he added. A Sustainability Compact for continuous improvements in labour rights and factory safety in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) and Knitwear Industry in Bangladesh’ (treated as’Sustainability Compact’) with the cooperation ILO, EU and USA on 8 July 2013 in Geneva. The progress has been made in many areas, which demonstrates forward movements towards improving occupational safety and workers’ rights situation in Bangladesh. Regarding initiative Tofail said the Bangladesh Labour (amendment) Act, 2013 was passed in the Parliament on 15 July 2013 incorporating core principles of ILO Conventions where provisions in relation to the fundamental rights to freedom of association and the rights to collective bargaining have been strengthened, Tofail said. Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, EU Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon, Richard Howitt (Labour Party), vice-chair, Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia, Ivan Štefanec (Christian Democrats), member, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia and Sajjad Karim (United Kingdom Conservative Party), Committee on International Trade were present at the meeting, according to a Commerce Ministry handout. The EU is the largest trading partner of Bangladesh as the EU provides duty-free benefits under the EBA (Everything but Arms). Bangladesh exported goods worth US$ 17.04 billion to the EU market in 2015.
