Bangladesh Trade Portal launched
Online gateway to boost businesses
MoU with FBCCI to be signed
soon to keep it updated: Tofail
STAFF REPORTER
Bangladesh introduced online trade gateway, the first of its kind in South Asian countries, to serve the business community with one-stop point of information for export-import.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday inaugurated the Bangladesh Trade Portal, which would provide an accessible, logical, helpful window for traders to access important regulatory and procedural information needed for export and import.
Ministry of Commerce with the support from the Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank established the portal, which is an important step for the government towards improving the predictability and transparency of the countrys laws and processes.
Operable both in Bangla and English, the portal stores information relating to existing trader regulations and procedures, including but not limited to laws, administrative procedures, guidance notes, applicable fees, forms, licenses, permits and penalties applicable in case of breach. Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Tofail Ahmed said the portal would open a new horizon for the businessmen through establishing linkage between Bangladesh and the rest of countries in the globe.
Digital Bangladesh is not a dream, now its a reality and we have already proven it, he said, adding, Once upon a time those who used to term Bangladesh as a bottomless basket are now branding Bangladesh as economic miracle.
The commerce minister said soon they would ink a MoU with the FBCCI to keep the portal updated.
The portal showcases wide variety of contents such as overview of Bangladesh economy, business start up process, import and export guide, customs
terminology, as well as information
special economic areas, export processing zones, cross-border trade and GSP automation. It has also multiple search option that includes product search with HS code, SPS-TBT search points and search options for measures, standards and special requirement.
Chaired by senior commerce secretary, Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, ndc, FBCCI president Abdul Matlub Ahmad and M Masrur Reaz, programme manager, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice Group, Bangladesh, among others, also spoke on the occasion.
The portal catalogues international, regional and bi-lateral trade agreements to which Bangladesh is a party including the applicable rules and requirements as well as the benefits are devolving therefrom.
Bangladesh Trade Portal seeks to encourage overseas investors that are interested to trade with Bangladesh and provide them with market and regulatory information to help them export to and import from Bangladesh.
Ministry of Commerce invites the business community, research institutions, community and the public at large to log on to Bangladesh Trade Portal and make the best use of it.
