Staff Reporter:
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Zahir Uddin Swapon, MP yesterday said all discourses of the experts on the challenges of country’s graduation from LDC and overall development of trade and com-merce would ultimately remain confined to theoretical debates unless the country’s politics is brought within an economy-friendly framework.
“Tangible initiatives by political leadership are required to transform theoretical dialogue into public benefit,” he said while addressing a workshop titled “LDC Graduation and Trade Competitiveness”, or-ganised by Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of National Press Club in the capital.
The information minister said trade-related challenges facing the country after LDC graduation would not decrease but rather increase. The government has already requested the relevant UN to defer the graduation timeline until November 2029 with the main objective of getting prepared, he added.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the present government is giving the highest priority to economy-friendly politics,” he said.
Swapon said, “We face fewer trade challenges in the countries like the United Kingdom or Australia. But we have a number of challenges in other export destinations.
During these additional three years, we have to formulate a coordinated roadmap to reform policies, re-move bureaucratic complexities and increase export growth,” he observed.
Chaired by RAPID Chairman Dr M A Razzak, the workshop was attended by Economic Reporters Fo-rum (ERF) President Daulat Akter Mala and RAPID Executive Director and Dhaka University Professor Dr M Abu Yusuf as special guests.
Journalists from different media outlets and economic analysts took part in the workshop.
