Maiden Ticfa meeting begins in city

The first-ever meeting under the Trade and Investment Cooperation framework Agreement (Ticfa) between Bangladesh and the USA began in Dhaka on Monday. The Ticfa meeting is reviewing trades and investment between the two countries and the US investment in Bangladesh, and it will identify and address obstacles towards further expanding bilateral trade and investment. The meeting will also include a discussion on the ongoing efforts in Bangladesh to bring about restoration of the country’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) trade privileges in the United States. Bangladesh will seek duty- and quota-free access of its products to the US market and restoration of the trade preferences at the meeting. Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed is leading the home side to the meeting being held at city’s Sonargaon Hotel. Assistant US Trade Representative for South Asia Michael J Delaney is leading the nine-member US delegation in the meeting that includes US Ambassador Dan W Mozena and seven other officials, according to UNB.