‘No GSP discrimination against BD’

Charge d’affaires of the US Embassy in Dhaka JoAnne Wagner on Tuesday said that though the working conditions in Bangladesh's RMG sector has improved a lot since the Rana Plaza incident, there is more room for improvement. She also made it clear that the USA never discriminate Bangladesh in the issue of providing facilities under the Generalised System of Preference (GSP).The US diplomat was addressing a press conference in the city, organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) on the upcoming US Trade Show scheduled to begin in the capital tomorrow (Thursday).The AmCham is organising the 27th annual U.S. Trade Show from February 27 to 29 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The US Embassy is the partner of the event.The US government assesses the conditions of labour safety and rights, intellectual property rights, compliance and working environment of a country for providing the GSP facilities, Ms Wagner said. The conditions are same for all the countries, she added.She also mentioned that in recent years the bilateral trade between the two countries has gone up to US$ 9.2 billion, which is more than double from 10 years ago.The diplomat pointed out that the US companies are keen to maintain labour condition, transparency and corporate social responsibility while doing business in Bangladesh.The trade show will showcase high-quality, cutting-edge American products and services that the US businesses could offer to Bangladeshi consumers, highlight the US business community's contributions to Bangladesh's impressive economic growth story, and demonstrate U.S. commitment to deepening and broadening U.S.-Bangladesh economic and commercial relations, said AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed.Forty-eight exhibitors operating in Bangladesh, including in the energy, agro-mechanisation, food and beverage sectors, and more will display their products and services in 78 stalls, he added.During the trade show, the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka will host four informational seminars.On February 28, the embassy officials will discuss the visa process including business, investor, and work visas, at 4:00 p.m., followed by a session at 5:15 p.m. on studying in the United States and the free consultative education services provided by the US Embassy through its EducationUSA Advising Centers.  On February 29, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will convene a discussion on "Private Sector Opportunities in Bangladesh" at 3:00 p.m., and at 5:00 p.m. officials from the U.S. government and representatives from the private sector will discuss "America's Indo-Pacific Economic Vision." U.S. Embassy Dhaka's participation in the annual U.S. Trade Show in Dhaka demonstrates the U.S. commitment to supporting Bangladesh's continued economic growth and development and a strong partnership to help ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on market-based economics and free, fair, and reciprocal trade principles, said a spokesperson of the US Embassy. 

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