Dhaka: Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir announced plans to transform the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) into a modern, effective, and financially self-sustaining institution capable of strengthening the country’s international trade capacity. The announcement was made during the 62nd Board Meeting of BFTI held at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister emphasized the necessity for Bangladesh to navigate the complexities of international trade more effectively. He revealed that BFTI will form a permanent expert panel to assist with World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement, trade policy analysis, and negotiations on bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. The panel will consist of experienced trade experts, legal professionals, and researchers from both public and private sectors.
The board meeting also approved a recommendation to appoint a qualified Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to enhance the institution’s dynamism and efficiency. Additionally, plans were made to introduce a Post Graduate Diploma programme under BFTI, pending approval from the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh. This program will cover international trade, trade law, and trade policy research to develop skilled human resources in these fields.
Further discussions during the meeting stressed the importance of expanding BFTI’s research activities, strengthening training capacity, and building research networks at both national and international levels. Senior officials, including Commerce Secretary (Routine Duty) Md Abdur Rahim Khan, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Mohammad Shahriar Kader Siddiky, and Industries Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman, attended the meeting.