Economic Reporter :
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Saturday said that the country’s export volume to Canada will be doubled within the next three years.
“Our current annual export earnings from Canada are one billion Dollars. We want to increase it within the time. To do so, potentials of SMEe and female entrepreneurs should be utilized,” the minister said while addressing a certificate giving programme at a city hotel.
Canada recently banned the use of plastic goods in its country, it may create scope for potentials for us as the demand of our jute goods will be alternative to plastic goods, he added.
The minister hoped that scope to export of our jute goods will be further expanded in the days to come.
Twenty-nine trade professionals have been awarded certificates for their role of developing capacity in trade and international market access support. As part of a project titled ‘Export Launchpad Bangladesh’, an international trade capacity building and market access support programme in Bangladesh, certificates were given among the professionals, who have been selected from nine industry, bank, trade chamber and commercial institutions.
International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), Trade Facilitation Office-Canada (TFO-Canada) and Business Promotion Council (BPC) gave the certificates.
The awarded officials are from Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI), Business Promotion Council (BPC), Brac Bank, City Bank, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), SME Foundation (SMEF), Women Entrepreneur Association of Bangladesh (WEAB), Women Entrepreneur Network for Development (WEND).
They were selected following a training programme from July to October this year.
They will now act as trainers by providing advice and assistance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) regarding expanding their trade and getting access to international markets.
Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Canada; AHM Shafiquzzaman, coordinator, Business Promotion Council and Additional Secretary of Ministry of Commerce; AHM Ahsan, Additional Secretary of the ministry and Vice Chairman Export Promotion Bureau; spoke at the event.
Benoit Prefontaine, Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Hani Salem Sonbol, Chief Executive Officer, ITFC; Steve Tipman, Executive Director, TFO; addressed through video link.
