Business council soon with envoys from European counties: Tofail

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Tuesday said a business council will be formed soon with Ambassadors from European counties to Bangladesh and related chamber leaders in it. The proposed council, styled ‘European Union Business Council’, will work for the expansion of trade between Bangladesh and the countries of Europe, he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with newly appointed European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon at the Secretariat. Bangladesh is eying the middle-income status by 2021 and is hopeful of enjoying the GSP Plus facility in European countries at that time, he said. Tofail mentioned that only 2 per cent of the readymade garment (RMG) factories have been identified as vulnerable so far in the ongoing safety inspection by international buyers and retailers’ platforms ‘Accord’ and ‘Alliance’. The minister said ‘Accord’ and ‘Alliance’ have so far visited 2229 RMG factories in Bangladesh and found 27 factories in vulnerable condition which is 2pc. ‘Accord and ‘Alliance’ will stay in the country till 2018 and we hope we’ll be able to make our factories modern by the time, he added, according to a news agency.