GSP Plus facilities in EU markets sought

Bangladesh has already started the process to obtain duty-free benefits for Bangladeshi goods under the ‘GSP Plus’ facilities in the markets of the European Union (EU), commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said yesterday.
“Export earnings were USD 28 billion in the last fiscal year. Of this, Bangladesh earned USD 18 billion from EU markets. The volume of exports will increase this year as well. The GSP facilities are playing a pivotal role in increasing the volume of exports in EU markets,” the commerce minister said while addressing a workshop on ‘Interim Evaluation Stakeholder Outreach’, held at a city hotel.
The minister expressed his thanks to the EU for continuing the generalised system of preferences (GSP) facilities in the readymade garments (RMG) sector.
EU ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon, EU trade affairs director-general Daniel Kramer, Export Promotion Bureau vice-chairperson Mafruha Sultana and the commerce ministry’s senior secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamun also spoke

at the workshop.  “Bangladesh would able to fulfil the target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Bangladesh would come under EU ‘GSP Plus’ facilities following the fulfilment of the SDG target. So, the government is now working to get EU GSP Plus facilities,” Tofail Ahmed said.  The minister alleged that Bangladeshi workers were not getting fair prices in the international markets at the moment.
“The Rana Plaza collapse was a great shock for Bangladesh. We have developed the working places in the RMG sector. Wages of workers have been increased. But Bangladeshi workers are not getting fair prices in the international markets despite development in the RMG sector, including development of working environments,” Ahmed said.   
Bangladesh is one of the highest GSP beneficiary countries in EU markets, Mayaudon said.  “At least 40 lakh women are working in the RMG sector. GSP and EBA facilities are not only increasing the export volumes of Bangladesh, these are also developing the country’s socio-economy and increasing employment generation. Besides, the EBA facility has also helped reduce the poverty in Bangladesh,” the EU ambassador said. He further said less-developed countries (LDCs), including Bangladesh, are getting GSP facilities in EU markets as per the World Trade Organization (WTO) market policy.
“Bangladesh won’t get GSP facility after it emerges from LDC status. So, Bangladesh will get GSP Plus facility. The EU is giving this facility for the developing countries,” Mayaudon said.   A total of 25 countries, including Pakistan, is getting GSP Plus facilities in EU markets, the EU ambassador added.

GSP Plus facilities in EU markets sought

Bangladesh has already started the process to obtain duty-free benefits for Bangladeshi goods under the GSP Plus facilities in the markets of the European Union (EU), commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said yesterday. Export earnings were USD 28 billion in the last fiscal year. Of this, Bangladesh earned USD 18 billion from EU markets. The volume of exports will increase this year as well. The GSP facilities are playing a pivotal role in increasing the volume of exports in EU markets, the commerce minister said while addressing a workshop on Interim Evaluation Stakeholder Outreach, held at a city hotel. The minister expressed his thanks to the EU for continuing the generalised system of preferences (GSP) facilities in the readymade garments (RMG) sector. EU ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon, EU trade affairs director-general Daniel Kramer, Export Promotion Bureau vice-chairperson Mafruha Sultana and the commerce ministrys senior secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamun also spoke at the workshop. Bangladesh would able to fulfil the target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Bangladesh would come under EU GSP Plus facilities following the fulfilment of the SDG target. So, the government is now working to get EU GSP Plus facilities, Tofail Ahmed said. The minister alleged that Bangladeshi workers were not getting fair prices in the international markets at the moment. The Rana Plaza collapse was a great shock for Bangladesh. We have developed the working places in the RMG sector. Wages of workers have been increased. But Bangladeshi workers are not getting fair prices in the international markets despite development in the RMG sector, including development of working environments, Ahmed said. Bangladesh is one of the highest GSP beneficiary countries in EU markets, Mayaudon said. At least 40 lakh women are working in the RMG sector. GSP and EBA facilities are not only increasing the export volumes of Bangladesh, these are also developing the countrys socio-economy and increasing employment generation. Besides, the EBA facility has also helped reduce the poverty in Bangladesh, the EU ambassador said. He further said less-developed countries (LDCs), including Bangladesh, are getting GSP facilities in EU markets as per the World Trade Organization (WTO) market policy. Bangladesh wont get GSP facility after it emerges from LDC status. So, Bangladesh will get GSP Plus facility. The EU is giving this facility for the developing countries, Mayaudon said. A total of 25 countries, including Pakistan, is getting GSP Plus facilities in EU markets, the EU ambassador added.