Australia will continue to have duty-free market access for Bangladeshi products even after LDC graduation. The country’s official decision was informed by High Commissioner Jeremy Bruer. BGMEA informed this in a circular on Monday (18 July).
On 17 July, a delegation from BGMEA, an association of garments manufacturers and exporters, paid a courtesy call to Jeremy Bruer at Australia High Commission in Dhaka. First Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam, Vice President Miran Ali, Director Asif Ashraf, Barrister Vidya Amrit Khan, and BGMEA Standing Committee on Foreign Mission Cell Chairman Shams Mahmud were in the delegation along with President Faruque Hassan. Duncan McCullough, Second Secretary (Commercial and Economic Diplomacy) of the Australian High Commission in Dhaka was present at the meeting.
In the meeting, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan welcomed the Australian government’s decision to continue duty-free market access for Bangladesh and said that this decision will help Bangladesh maintain the pace of economic growth even after LDC graduation. The president expressed hope that Australia’s friendly support and cooperation for the development of Bangladesh will continue in the coming years.
BGMEA said that the meeting discussed potential areas of trade and investment growth between Australia and Bangladesh. It was also expressed in the meeting that there is a huge opportunity for both countries to benefit from bilateral trade through cooperation. In the meeting, BGMEA heads expressed Bangladesh’s interest in importing more cotton and wool from Australia to meet the growing demand of the garments and textile industry. Also, in the meeting, they sought Australia’s cooperation in improving the knowledge and skills of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) students through the cooperation of leading Australian universities and fashion institutes.
