Plough on with trade policy reform

CHITTAGONG, Apr 28: Speakers at a seminar Saturday emphasised continuous reform and development of the trade policies as well as coordination of the government agencies concerned for implementing the specialised economic zones (SEZs).

They also focussed on policy framework and increased role of trade in generating growth and employment, exploring emerging trade patterns for export diversification, finding non-traditional export markets, and assessing trade policy stance.

They made these observations in a seminar on priorities for trade policies and special economic zone at the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Auditorium in the port city.

CCCI and Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) jointly organized the seminar.

It was addressed by CCCI president Mahbubul Alam, PRI chairman Dr Zaidi Sattar and operations director Khurshid Alam, CCCI senior vice president Nurun Newaz Salim and director Mahfuzul Hoque Shah, Korean EPZ MD Brig Gen (rtd) Hasan Nasir, Chittagong City Corporation secretary Rashid Ahmed, Chittagong Port Authority chief of planning M Moniruzzaman, DFID economic advisor Dr. Stuart Davis, BGMEA director Anjan Shekhor Das, BKMEA representative Shawkat Osman, Taher Sobhan, Ataul Karim Chowdhury, Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association leader Amirul Islam Chowdhury, and assistant commissioner of taxes Mazharul Islam.

Dr. Zaidi Sattar presented a paper on priorities for trade policies. He said trade openness not only stimulates market competition, but also creates access to global markets. Domestic market is limited comparing to the global economy worth about US$ 60 trillion.

He said the country's export and import growth has been 15 per cent over the last three decades. "But we will have to continue our efforts for renovations of trade and trade policy to cope with our competitors."