Accelerate trade facilitation now

Staff Reporter :

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin has emphasised the urgent need to implement the Trade Facilitation Roadmap to address the challenges associated with Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

The adviser made this remarks while at the 8th meeting of the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) at the BIAM Foundation in capital on Tuesday.

He also highlighted the critical role of capacity-building and underscored the necessity of enhancing efficiency and fostering a competitive mindset to navigate the post-LDC transition successfully.

The Ministry of Commerce organised the meeting, Lutfey Siddiqi, the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, attended the meeting as a distinguished guest, presided over Sk Bashir Uddin.

“We are set to graduate from LDC status in November 2026. This transition will introduce new regulations affecting our exports. To mitigate the economic impact, enhancing our capacity is crucial. Competitiveness through skill development is our only viable option,” the Commerce Adviser told the meeting.

He said Bangladesh has a timeframe until 2030 to make necessary adjustments. “I believe this is a considerable period. If we graduate in 2026, our working groups must collaborate effectively to establish clear objectives.”