Dhaka: Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced today that the government has initiated talks with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen Bangladesh’s capacity in trade negotiations. Alam emphasized the need for enhanced skills as the country engages in free trade agreement (FTA) discussions with Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the press secretary highlighted the importance of capacity building in making these trade negotiations effective. He mentioned that discussions with the ADB and the World Bank have already taken place, and there is hope for their support in this initiative. This statement was made during a briefing following a National Steering Committee meeting at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, which focused on Bangladesh’s transition strategy from LDC status.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, underscored the role of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in job creation. Alam pointed out that while ICT jobs are being generated, they often go unnoticed. Previously, ICT exports received a 6 percent incentive, but discussions now revolve around shifting focus to frontier technologies like artificial intelligence.
The meeting decided to enhance incentives for those involved in cutting-edge AI and advanced technologies, while reducing incentives for legacy ICT sectors. Chief Adviser Yunus stressed the urgency of announcing a roadmap to boost capacity building and job creation in the ICT sector. Additionally, discussions were held on drafting the import policy for 2026-2028.
The meeting featured participation from various advisers, including Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin, as well as industry leaders like BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan and FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam. BGMEA President Khan called for a stable energy supply to support manufacturing, emphasizing the establishment of regasification units for continuous gas supply and developing land-based LNG for energy security.
The discussion also extended to the growing use of solar power in factories, with participants noting reduced electricity costs due to solar panels. Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries President Abdul Muktadir highlighted the necessity of a reliable gas supply to attract investment in the pharmaceutical industry. He emphasized the progress in pharmaceutical manufacturing and the need for infrastructure and energy stability for sustained growth, advocating for scientific and technical education over business degrees to meet industry demands.