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The government is preparing a new five-year action plan to strengthen Bangladesh’s trade capacity, improve the investment climate and enhance competitiveness in international markets as the country prepares for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.
Speaking at a Country Programme Document (CPD) validation workshop at the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday, Commerce Secretary Ataur Rahman Khan said Bangladesh would need to address key challenges, including non-tariff barriers, international compliance requirements and investment climate reforms during the transition from LDC status.
He said 12 priority initiatives have been identified under the third phase of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a World Trade Organization (WTO)-supported programme designed to help LDCs strengthen trade capacity.
“The benefits of these initiatives will depend not only on sound policies and research but also on effective implementation,” the commerce secretary said.
He added that the government would further improve the business environment through trade facilitation, reforms to relevant laws and regulations, and stronger coordination among ministries and agencies.
Additional Commerce Secretary (WTO) Khadija Nazneen said Bangladesh had successfully completed the first two phases of the EIF programme.
Based on the newly prepared Country Programme Document, she said, the third phase is expected to begin later this year with a new five-year implementation plan supported by development partners.
EIF consultant and former Additional Secretary Md Hafizur Rahman said an initial list of 52 proposed projects had been narrowed to 12 priority programmes after considering implementation capacity and likely financing.
The selected initiatives focus on enhancing export competitiveness, facilitating trade, improving the investment climate, strengthening institutional capacity, expanding training and research, and promoting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support trade and economic development.
The new programme is expected to help Bangladesh strengthen its trade readiness and sustain export growth after graduating from the LDC category.
