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Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has urged the country to make effective use of the possible three-year extension before graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category to strengthen export competitiveness and implement key policy reforms.
Speaking at a workshop titled “Bangladesh’s LDC Graduation and Challenges to Export Competitiveness” in Dhaka on Monday (July 6), the minister said the additional time should be used to prepare the economy for a more competitive global trading environment rather than to delay reforms.
The workshop was jointly organised by Research and Policy Integration for Development and UK International Development at the National Press Club.
Swapan said Bangladesh has requested the relevant United Nations committee to defer its LDC graduation by three years, as export competition is expected to become more challenging after graduation.
He stressed the need to identify sectors requiring reform and formulate a clear roadmap over the next three years to enhance export capacity. He also called for priority-based policy reforms to remove barriers affecting the country’s export sector.
The minister said economists should identify challenges through research, while political leaders must translate those recommendations into effective action plans. He emphasised the importance of close coordination between economic policy and political decision-making to ensure public welfare.
He added that identifying economic challenges alone would not be enough, and that strong political commitment and effective implementation would be essential to transform Bangladesh’s economic potential into tangible success.
The workshop was moderated by RAPID Executive Director M Abu Yusuf, while RAPID Chairman M A Razzak presented the keynote paper. Daulat Akter Mala also spoke as a special guest.
