Bangladesh again elected LDC coordinator at WTO

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Nazmul Ahsan
The Group of the least developed countries (LDCs) unanimously elected Bangladesh as their coordinator at a meeting held at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) headquarters, Geneva on the first day of the current month, a top trade official said.
The tenure of the LDC leader, which is generally fixed for six months, could be extended for Bangladesh until the next Ministerial meeting of the WTO, likely to be held in July next year, the official added.
"It's good news for Bangladesh and other LDCs as longstanding issues like duty-free and quota free market access of LDCs to developed countries will get further momentum in multilateral forum with the new and proven leadership of Bangladesh," Muhammad Ghulam Hossain, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce (MoC), told the FE on Saturday.
"Bangladesh as LDC coordinator will have the access to Green Room meeting of the WTO, where it could play a vital and positive role in favor of marginalized and developing countries," he added.
Until December 01 last, Tanzania led the LDC Group as its coordinator. Prior to the new development in WTO, Bangladesh had been LDC coordinator twice-in 2003 and 2006.
Trade officials said the new responsibility that Bangladesh has assumed as the LDC coordinator is challenging as the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference is likely to be held in July with a view to concluding the Doha round.
Bangladesh, as the leader of LDCs, will convene a LDC trade minister's conference to finalise their stand during negotiations at the Ministerial Conference. The meeting will be held after the date and venue of next WTO conference is announced, a high official in the MoC said.
He also said four major trade-related deficiencies of Bangladesh and other LDCs ought to be the targeted to reap benefit from global trade. These are --trade-related infrastructure development, removing supply-side constraints, assured market access and duty free access
Currently, the number of LDCs is 49. Out of the total, only 33 least developed countries, including 25 from Africa, are the members of WTO.
Mustafizur Rahman, executive director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said being the LDC coordinator, Bangladesh should now put pressure on the developed nations to implement Hong Kong Declaration of the WTO, which offered 97 per cent duty-free market access of products originating from LDCs to developed countries.
"Besides, Bangladesh as the LDC leader should undertake move to implement the Doha Round with special emphasis on Mode-4 under the spirit of Early Harvest formula," Mustafiz told the FE Saturday.
"As the largest LDC and coordinator of LDCs, a diplomatic approach to minimize the difference between African LDCs and other countries falling under the same group, should be pursued by Bangladesh at WTO to have a common LDC position," he added.