In order to accelerate growth and human development in Bangladesh, the exploration of new zones for RMG markets would bring in more opportunities as the country has been exporting its RMG goods only in the European Union and North America over the past years, said Dr Gowher Rizvi, international affairs adviser to the prime minister. He made the observation yesterday while speaking at last day of the two-day “BIDS Research Almanac 2016” held at Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan. Gowher Rizvi said: “Today everybody is talking about the inability of Bangladesh to sustain garments export which I personally doubt. I think garments export will go on. But even if not, there is lot of new markets that need to be explored. Bangladesh only exports its RMG goods in two economic zones – the European Union and North America – while the whole world can become the sector’s expected market.” He also gave suggestions to explore new markets in the Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Africa and Turkey to accelerate growth and development in the sector. He further said that proper negotiating can improve bilateral relationship with these countries. Speaking as a special guest in the programme, Dr Shamsul Alam, member of general economic division of the Planning Commission, said: “Bangladesh really needs to do a lot of research work through the BIDS, Planning Commission and Center for Policy Dialogue. It also requires both lobby exercise and negotiating efforts in order to save the two very important markets for us, namely US and the UK.” Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow, Center for Policy Dialogue, said: “We have to create strong policies and negotiate with them [right wing parties] so that we can get rid of the trade barriers that are imposed by them.” He also stated that Bangladesh needs to emphasise on regional trade, especially with China and India, rather than on the global trade. World Bank lead economist Dr Zahid Hussain and Ulster University economics department teacher Prof SR Osmani also spoke at the session with BIDS General Director Dr KAS Murshid in chair.
