The outgoing US Ambassador in Bangladesh Dan W Mozena once again called for massive transformation of the country's apparel sector to overcome the challenges and make it more compliant with global standards.
"There is no duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladesh garments to the US market. It is the GSP (Generalised System of Preferences). Once you transform your apparel industry to world class, I think GSP can be restored," said the US ambassador while addressing a roundtable conference arranged by the Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).
"Transformation of the readymade garment (RMG) is the first necessity", said the ambassador terming it the stepping stone for getting duty free access to the US market. The ambassador, however, observed that the apparel sector is undergoing a massive transformation to make it more compliant with global standards.
The Ambassador, who has been working here for three years and leaving Bangladesh shortly after finishing his tenure, also identified poor infrastructure, roads and highways, shortage of power and energy, underdeveloped port, lack of good governance and rule of law as some of the biggest challenges to the country's investment. "But all these challenges and constraints are resolvable, if there is will," said the ambassador.
Besides the challenges, he identified Information Technology (IT), agro-processing industry, power and energy and infrastructure as some of the promising areas for investment.
He stressed the need for high quality education and skill, training, expanded ports, roads, railroads, more power, more energy supplies, less corruption and red tape that discourage investment, secured working conditions and labour rights for workers, improved rule of law and greater political stability for better Bangladesh.
The conference on "America-Bangladesh Relations: Economic and Social Perspective" was also addressed, among others, by former caretaker government adviser Mirza Azizul Islam, former ministers Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, GM Quader, Major (Retd) Hafizuddin, former caretaker adviser CM Shafi Sami, ambassador Md. Zami, former MP Golam Maula Rony, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Additional Research Director Dr Khondkar Golam Moazzem and banker Ishatiq Ahmed Chowdhury. Centre for NRB chairperson MS Shekil Chowdhury presided over the meeting.
Terming Bangladesh a country of deep strategic importance to America, the US ambassador said that America's partnership with Bangladesh is now broader, deeper and stronger than ever. "The Bangladeshi-American Diaspora adds an important dimension to the partnership," said Mozena adding that it played an ever more important role in building the people-to-people ties that strengthened American partnership with Bangladesh.
He also urged the young NRBs to explore investing their know-how, problem solving ability and resources in Bangladesh.
Speakers at the meeting, however, urged the US ambassador for more US investment, revival of GSP facilities in the US market, creating better job opportunities for NRBs in the USA and more scholarships and exchange programmes for Bangladeshi students and professionals.
Replying to the US ambassador, Mirza Azizul islam said Bangladesh is the biggest single exporter to the US, but the main export product - readymade garment - does not enjoy the duty-free facility. He also lamented for excluding Bangladesh from the US Diversity Visa (DV) program, squeezing scholarships for students and professionals. He urged the US authorities to diversify its investments to other sectors apart from energy.
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also criticised the US government for cancelling the GSP facilities although, he said, many of the Sub-Saharan African counties were getting duty-free and quota-free access to the US market. He said that the country has vast young, educated new generation, many of them having IT background, the USA can train up these people and outsource IT experts and services from Bangladesh.
Former adviser Shafi Sami urged the outgoing US ambassador to work for Bangladesh after retirement as an honorary ambassador. Former ambassador Mohammad Zamir also requested Mozena to work for Bangladesh and sought cooperation from the USA to explore the huge potential of blue economy centring the Bay of Bangal. Dan W Mozena, who has been serving in Dhaka since November 24, 2011, would be replaced by Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat.
Ex-MP Golam Maula Rony, however, disagreed with other speakers about the US-Bangladesh relations which he said is passing through a depressing situation.
mzrbd@yahoo.com
