JWC calls for new agreement to extend duty-free market access to Canada

The Canada-Bangladesh joint working group on strengthening commercial relations has urged the government of Bangladesh to complete negotiations on a new agreement to continue duty-free access to Canadian market since the General Preferential Tariffs with Canada will expire in 2023.

The committee came up with the call during the meeting virtually held on Wednesday night. During the meeting, Canadian Co-Chair Nuzhat Tam-Zaman recommended launching an annual Canada-Bangladesh Forum as a launching pad for the JWG, reports BSS.

The recommendations from Canada include easier visa processing, electronic visa for Bangladeshis, branding the development stories of Bangladesh to Canadian investors and forming Canada Bangladesh cross border e-commerce platform, said a press release today.

Co-chair of Bangladesh, FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin said, BIDA is providing a number of services through One Stop Service platform as doing business in Bangladesh is easier now.

Hence, the FBCCI Chief called the Canadian entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh. "Agriculture and Technology are the sectors with most potential," he informed.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Dr. Khalilur Rahman informed that the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh is working to ease the Canadian Visa processing for Bangladesh.

President of Canada Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Masud Rahman suggested establishing a 100 acre Canadian industrial zone in Bangabandhu Industrial City to attract the Canadian investors.

He proposed establishing Canadian Visa office in Dhaka, signing Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements, FTA and forming a consultative committee in a report submitted in the meeting.

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls suggested identifying the obstacles for Canadian companies to invest in Bangladesh.

Directors of FBCCI Syed Sadat Almas Kabir, Md. Saiful Islam, President of Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) Chris Dekker, Secretary General of South Asia of Canada Global Affairs David Hartman, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Commerce Abdur Rahim Khan and President of Bangladesh Plastic Association Shamim Ahmed also spoke at the meeting.