Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the government won’t implement the process of graduation to a developing country suddenly from the least developed country (LDC).
“The government would implement the graduation considering a favourable situation and taking time,” he said.
Salehuddin Ahmed made the remarks on Sunday while speaking at a function on the occasion of the signing of a free trade agreement between Bangladesh and Singapore at the Ministry of Commerce.
He said Bangladesh is trying to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Initiatives are being taken to sign new free trade agreements with new countries. The interim government is emphasizing to boost the country’s trade and commerce.
The commerce adviser also said not under any pressure from anyone, Bangladesh would ink new agreements due to its own interest.
Singapore is the 32nd largest economy in the world and Bangladesh is its important commercial partner, he mentioned.
He said that after graduating from the least developed countries to developing countries, Bangladesh will face a new challenge losing duty and quota-free access to developed countries. Trade might decline with developed countries once Bangladesh graduates to a developing country.
bd-pratidin/GR
