Trade bodies urge Turkey to withdraw duty on RMG export

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Monday urged the government of Turkey to take out anti-dumping duty on export of readymade garments (RMG) and textiles from Bangladesh. The first vice-president of the chamber Md Jasim Uddin made the request to the visiting 18-member business delegation from Turkey at a meeting with the leaders of apex trade body to boost bilateral trade and commerce between the two brotherly countries at the conference room of the Federation in the capital. General Secretary of Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) Ahmet Cakir led the Turkish business delegation. President of Turkey-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fikret Cicek was also present. Jasim Uddin said the government and FBCCI have been negotiating with the Turkish government to reduce the existing duty on RMG items to 10 per cent from 17 per cent imposed by the Turkish government. "The matter will be discussed when a high-powered Bangladeshi delegation under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and comprising FBCCI representatives will visit Turkey next month," he said. He said the trade relation between Bangladesh and Turkey needs to be strengthened further. In 2009-10 Bangladesh exported goods worth US$ 323.35 million to Turkey and imported goods worth $ 75.29 million. "We need to increase the volume of trade to the highest level for mutual benefit of the two countries," he said. He called upon the Turkish entrepreneurs to invest more here considering the investment-friendly facilities being offered by the Bangladesh government. Ahmet Cakir said they (Turkish delegation) will convey the message of FBCCI to their government for taking necessary measures to reduce duty on export of RMG from Bangladesh. FBCCI Secretary General Mir Shahabuddin Mohammed, directors MA Momen, Abu Alam Chowdhury, Obaidur Rahman, Golam Mainuddin and Md Jalaluddin Ahmed and BKMEA Vice-President Md Hatem, among others, were present. Meanwhile, a 13-member business delegation of Turkey-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TBCCI) held a discussion with Dhaka Chamber of Commerce Industry (DCCI) in the city Monday. President of TBCCI Fikret Cicek led the delegation. DCCI President Asif Ibrahim welcomed the delegation and thanked for paying visit to DCCI. He said that Bangladesh and Turkey maintain an excellent bilateral trade relation based on mutual respect, friendship and trust. The DCCI president said both the countries are active members of WTO, OIC and D-8 and continuously trying hard to enhance the bilateral trade volume to a desired level. There are ample scope to increase trade and investment in various sectors like IT, software, food, construction, renewable energy, education and printing materials other than RMG, Asif Ibrahim. He mentioned that recently the Turkish government approved the penel Safeguard Duty (SD) on apparel and textile imports from different countries including Bangladesh. This safeguard measure, he said, would hamper exports of Bangladesh to Turkey and hoped that both the governments of Turkey and Bangladesh would discuss this issue for a settlement. He informed that the present government of Bangladesh has announced attractive investment packages for the foreign investors. The Turkish entrepreneurs can utilise these offers, he added. President of TBCCI Fikret Cicek put emphasis on initiating joint ventures between Dhaka and Istanbul.