Staff Reporter :
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Mercia Bloom Bernicat on Tuesday democracy is a must for a country’s economic development, and Bangladesh should also pursue the democratic norms and values for ensuring its economic progress and incisive growth.
“Bangladesh has made exceptional progress in many key development sectors over the years attaining a remarkable economic growth. To sustain a high economic growth, Bangladesh must uphold democracy as per the expectation of its people and global communities,” Bernicat said this while responding to a question.
She delivered the remark at a press conference in the city on the eve of the 25th US trade show-2018.
The three-day (March-1-3) trade show will begin at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Thursday, aiming to promote economic ties between Bangladesh and the USA.
The US Embassy in Dhaka and the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) are jointly organizing the event. Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed will inaugurate the trade show as the chief guest.
There will be 72 booths at the trade show exhibiting the products and services of more than 150 American
companies available in Bangladesh.
Regarding regaining GSP facility, Mercia Bernicat said Bangladesh was improving, but yet to properly ensure labour rights at RMG factories, which was the most important factor to get the GSP facility back.
Bangladesh has been pursuing the US preferential trade benefits (GSP) since the Obama administration suspended the facility, citing hazardous working conditions in its apparel industry.
“Bangladesh is going through a process to get back the GSP facility. The US administration may extend the facility once the country fulfills the conditions under the Action plan,” said Bernicat.
The bilateral trade between the US and Bangladesh is growing tremendously since 1992, leading to an expansion of the trade from $1 billion to more than $ 7.0 billion in 2017.
“The US Trade Show highlights the great American products available in Bangladesh and the strong partnership between US and Bangladeshi businesses,” said US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat.
She also expressed the hope that the bilateral trade between the two friendly countries would increase in future.
The three-day trade show will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm every day. The entry fee to the trade is Tk 30. But the school students wearing their uniforms will be able to enter the trade show at free of cost.
AmCham Vice-President Shadab Ahmed Khan, US Trade Department of Commerce’s Regional Manager Malcolm Burke and former AmCham acting Aftab Ul Islam also spoke, among others, at the press conference.
