Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) has completed the study titled ‘Identification of trade-related graduation challenges and preparation of sector-specific trade roadmaps for overcoming the challenges’ under the project ‘Diagnostic Trade Integration Study Update (DTISU) of Bangladesh: Trade Roadmap for Sustainable Graduation (TRSG)’ initiated by the WTO Wing of the Ministry of Commerce and funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) of the WTO. The launching ceremony of the report was held at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
The study attempted to identify the trade-related graduation challenges and formulate trade-roadmaps for 12 sectors for the smooth graduation of Bangladesh from the LDC status.
The sectors under the study include RMG, shipbuilding, agro products and processed food, fisheries and livestock, light engineering including electronics and electrical products, plastics, leather and leather products, non-leather footwear, pharmaceuticals and API, tourism, software and IT and nursing and midwifery.
Mr. Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce (MoC) attended the program as the Chief Guest and launched the report. Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, CEO, BFTI and Team Leader of the study, briefly presented the study and Mr. Md. Obaidul Azam, Director, BFTI and National Trade Expert of the study, presented the roadmaps of 12 sectors at the event. Ms. Nusrat Jabeen Banu, ndc, Additional Secretary, WTO Wing, MoC attended the event as the Special Guest. Mr. Md. Hafizur Rahman, Member, Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) was present as the discussant. Dr. Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director, Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), World Trade Organization (WTO) delivered a video message congratulating MoC and BFTI for launching the report.
Earlier, a validation workshop on the study was held on 07 May 2023 at the BFTI Conference Room. Mr. Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce (MoC) was present at the workshop as the Chief Guest. Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, CEO, BFTI presided over the workshop. Mr. Md. Obaidul Azam, Director, BFTI moderated the open discussion session. At the keynote presentation, Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, Team Leader of the study, presented the implementation status of the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study 2016 and LDC graduation challenges of 12 sectors. Dr. M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Chairman, Department of Finance, University of Dhaka and International Trade Expert of the study, presented the SWOT Analysis and Mr. Md. Obaidul Azam, National Trade Expert of the study presented the roadmaps for the 12 sectors.
