Tofail requests duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to Ukraine market  

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has asked Ukraine to provide duty and quota free access of Bangladeshi products to their market.

The minister made the request at a meeting with Ukrainian first Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Stepan Kubiv on the sidelines of WTO's 11th ministerial conference (MC) in Buenos Aires.

Tofail felt the necessity of forming a trade body comprising entrepreneurs of both countries and said mutual visits of businessmen would help boost the bilateral trade.

Stepan Kubiv assured the Commerce Minister to take initiatives for forming a trade body and exchange visits of businessmen.

He also proposed formation an expert group for it, as per a BSS report citing a release on Thursday.

Tofail also told the Ukrainian minister that foreign businessmen would benefit if they invest in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Bangladesh.

Commerce secretary Shubhashish Bosu, Bangladesh's permanent representative to UN offices in Geneva M Shamim Ahsan, EPB vice chairman Bijoy Bhattachariya and WTO Cell director general M Munir Chowdhury, among others, were present.

As per a decision of the conference, the developed countries decided to offer duty and quota free access to the least developed countries (LDCs).

The report also said Bangladesh is getting this facility from many developed countries alongside the European Union (EU).