‘Young voices must be heard on key issues impacting their future’

City Desk :
Noting growing relations with Bangladesh, Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Tuesday said that they want to see more business from Europe to Bangladesh, noting that Bangladesh will be the ninth largest consumer market in the world by 2030.

“Bangladesh is increasingly an attractive market. And that is why our relationship is really becoming a shared partnership on so many different levels,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at an interactive event titled “Bangladesh Decides: The Youth Speaks” (BDYS) at Dhaka University, reports UNB.

Ambassador Whiteley said they want to enhance and advance their commercial interests in Bangladesh.

“It’s vital that young voices are heard on key issues facing their future.

Today’s event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views with students on the economy and global challenges. The EU is supporting youth worldwide, including through our Youth Action Plan adopted last year,” he said.

HerNet Foundation organized the first episode of the programme envisioned and conceptualized by the founding CEO and MD of HerNet TV, Alisha Pradhan.

The event, co-funded and supported by the EU Embassy in Bangladesh, is a testament to their commitment to empowering the youths of Bangladesh.

Highlighting the importance of export diversification, the EU envoy said readymade garment products are still dominating Bangladesh’s export basket.

He appreciated Bangladesh’s strength in the agriculture sector and said it has been an amazing success, and Bangladesh is now self-sufficient in staple crops.

The EU ambassador also highly appreciated joint efforts towards women’s economic empowerment. “I see so much focus on women’s economic empowerment in Bangladesh.”

He also noted the revolution in the garment sector and highlighted how it provided job opportunities for women.
The EU is Bangladesh’s principal trading partner.

Now poised to graduate to developing country status, Bangladesh has made good use of duty- and quota-free access to the EU market, garnering over a 60 percent share of global imports to the EU under the ‘Everything But Arms’ system.

Bangladesh is the largest beneficiary of the EBA, with exports to the EU market reaching 24 billion euros in 2022.