Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh is set to implement a new five-year action plan aimed at strengthening the country’s trade
capacity, improving the investment climate and enhancing competitiveness in global markets as it
prepares for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.
The initiative will be implemented through the Country Program Document (CPD) prepared for the third
phase of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a World Trade Organization (WTO)-led program
that supports LDCs in building trade capacity.
Commerce Secretary Ataur Rahman Khan disclosed the plan while addressing a validation workshop on
the CPD at the Ministry of Commerce yesterday.
He said Bangladesh’s economy is currently passing through a critical phase as it prepares for LDC
graduation while simultaneously addressing challenges such as non-tariff barriers, international
compliance requirements and the need to improve the investment environment, said a Commerce
Ministry press release.
“The recommendations made under the previous phases of the EIF have been duly reflected in the
Country Programme Document. The document contains 12 priority activities, each aligned with
Bangladesh’s trade capacity development and reform agenda,” he said.
The commerce secretary stressed that preparing policies and research reports alone would not be
sufficient, emphasizing that effective implementation would be the key to success.
“Alongside studies, the document must provide clear guidance on how reforms can be effectively
implemented. The benefits of these reforms should reach ministries, departments and relevant agencies
down to the field level,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of trade facilitation, trade liberalization, legal and regulatory reforms
and stronger coordination among ministries to improve Bangladesh’s overall business environment.
Speaking at the workshop, Additional Secretary (WTO) of the Ministry of Commerce Khadiza Nazneen
said the WTO’s Enhanced Integrated Framework supports LDCs in strengthening their trade capacity
with financial assistance from development partners, including the United Kingdom, the European Union
and Sweden.
She said Bangladesh had successfully implemented two phases of the EIF program. The first phase ran
from 2009 to 2015, while the second phase was implemented from 2016 to 2024.
“The third phase will now begin. Based on the Country Program Document, Bangladesh will receive
financial support for implementing the program. The five-year program is expected to commence this
year,” she added.
Former Additional Secretary and EIF Consultant Md Hafizur Rahman said the CPD had been prepared by
incorporating recommendations from Bangladesh’s existing policies, strategies and previous studies.
He said priority areas were identified based on the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS), the Export
Policy, Industrial Policy, Trade Policy, the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and investment
facilitation initiatives.
“Initially, around 52 project ideas were identified. Later, considering the likely support from development
partners and implementation capacity, these were narrowed down to 12 priority activities,” he said.
The selected activities focus on export capacity development, trade facilitation, improvement of the
investment climate, institutional capacity building, training, research and the application of artificial
intelligence (AI) in trade-related activities.
Additional Secretary (FTA) Ayesha Akter, Additional Secretary (IIT) Shibir Bichitra Barua and
representatives from various ministries, government agencies and stakeholder organizations also attended
the workshop.
Participants expressed optimism that successful implementation of the third phase of the EIF program
would help Bangladesh maintain its competitiveness in international trade and attract new investment
after its graduation from the LDC category.
