LDCs mulling jt alliance to pursue US congressmen for passage of NPDA bill
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Naim-Ul-Karim
Asian and African least developed countries (LDCs) are considering establishing a greater alliance to pursue the US congressmen for the passage of a bill styled 'the New Partnership for Development Act (NPDA) 2007' that aims to reduce global extreme poverty through trade facilitation, sources said.
"Our Ambassador to the USA Humayun Kabir has already met his African and Asian counterparts in this connection," Anwar Ul Chowdhury Parvez, president of Bangladesh Garments' Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA), told the FE.
Apart from this, he said, Bangladesh should make a common platform with emerging Southeast Asian country Cambodia to make its position strong and reap optimum benefit from the bill.
"On our part, we are also pursuing through appointing a lobby firm," he said.
When asked, the BGMEA president said the bill is likely to be produced before the House of Congress by the end of January next year.
Two thirds of vote in the Congress will be required to pass the bill -- NPDA-- and put it forward to the Senate for the final nod, he said.
US congressman Mc Dermott placed the bill before the House of Congress on October 18 that aims to reduce global extreme poverty.
The NPDA, if passed, will provide a degree of market access not found in any other preference scheme, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), in the past.
Beneficiary LDCs with exception of Myanmar and Sudan will be able to export their products to the US market without being sub ject to tariff and limitations if the Congressmen and the Senators pass the NPDA bill.
The NPDA will develop a $5.0 billion fund for LDCs for their capacity building and infrastructure development.
A senior foreign ministry official said Bangladesh's position in reaping optimum benefit will be difficult if addressing of compliance issues and maintaining quality of the products are not properly ensured.
Asian and African least developed countries (LDCs) are considering establishing a greater alliance to pursue the US congressmen for the passage of a bill styled 'the New Partnership for Development Act (NPDA) 2007' that aims to reduce global extreme poverty through trade facilitation, sources said.
"Our Ambassador to the USA Humayun Kabir has already met his African and Asian counterparts in this connection," Anwar Ul Chowdhury Parvez, president of Bangladesh Garments' Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA), told the FE.
Apart from this, he said, Bangladesh should make a common platform with emerging Southeast Asian country Cambodia to make its position strong and reap optimum benefit from the bill.
"On our part, we are also pursuing through appointing a lobby firm," he said.
When asked, the BGMEA president said the bill is likely to be produced before the House of Congress by the end of January next year.
Two thirds of vote in the Congress will be required to pass the bill -- NPDA-- and put it forward to the Senate for the final nod, he said.
US congressman Mc Dermott placed the bill before the House of Congress on October 18 that aims to reduce global extreme poverty.
The NPDA, if passed, will provide a degree of market access not found in any other preference scheme, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), in the past.
Beneficiary LDCs with exception of Myanmar and Sudan will be able to export their products to the US market without being sub ject to tariff and limitations if the Congressmen and the Senators pass the NPDA bill.
The NPDA will develop a $5.0 billion fund for LDCs for their capacity building and infrastructure development.
A senior foreign ministry official said Bangladesh's position in reaping optimum benefit will be difficult if addressing of compliance issues and maintaining quality of the products are not properly ensured.