Role of Australia-BD business council lauded

Australian High Commission in Dhaka has established Australia-Bangladesh business council with a view to increasing trade between the two countries, Federal Member of Parliament (Werriwa) Laurie Ferguson said.

"I hope the initiative taken by the high commission will boost up bilateral trade between Australia and Bangladesh in the days ahead," he told BSS.

The Australian MP, now on a weeklong visit in Bangladesh, said the trade volume between the two counties reached around US$1.0 billion and the relationship with Bangladesh will grow further.

"Our two-way trade now stands at $1.0 billion, reflecting Bangladesh's significant economic growth and our highly complementary commercial strength," he said.

About Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) industries, Mr Ferguson said the garment industries are crucial for Bangladesh economy as many women are employed in the sector.

"We cannot support the extreme low wages, so that nobody goes below the standard," he said, adding that the wages condition in Bangladesh is growing up.

He said the condition of Bangladesh's RMG sector is good and some of the company's activities are impressive and the wages condition is growing up.