Trade opportunities for LDCs

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A positive move has been taken in the US Congress for promoting the goals of poverty alleviation in the poor countries of the world. This move relates to the introduction of the "New Partnership for Development" Bill of 2007 in the US Congress. This is stated to be aimed at reducing global extreme poverty through eliminating tariff on all products, originating in the least developed counties (LDCs). The US Congressman Jim MacDermount has taken the initiative for introduction of the bill.
We believe that offering duty-free entry of products, including apparels, from the LDCs can create new opportunities for employment and thereby help alleviate poverty and ensure social progress in the LCDs. Hearteningly, there are provisions in the bill for capacity building in order to open up new trade-creating opportunities for the poor countries. The LDCs do badly need augmenting of such opportunities though supports for trade-creating capacity building.
Millions of workers, mostly women, in Bangladesh are now employed in the country's ready-made garments (RMG) sector. The move for eliminating tariffs on all products, originating in the LCDs, will largely benefit this RMG industry, when the bill is approved by the US Congress. This will help promote the goals of better livelihood for the RMG workers in Bangladesh, leading to acceleration of the pace of its socio-economic progress. We urge upon all concerned to join hands together for appropriate follow-up actions on the proposed Bill which, upon its enactment and operationalisation, is expected to provide the much-needed benefits to the poor countries.
Khandaker Helalul Islam
Rampura, Dhaka