DHAKA: The first of its kind in South Asia, Bangladesh Trade Portal launches on March 13 to serve the business community with a one-stop point of information relating to export from and import into Bangladesh.
Hosted by the Ministry of Commerce with support from the Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank Group, the portal provides an accessible, logical, helpful window for traders to access important regulatory and procedural information needed to export and import.
Bangladesh Trade Portal is an important step for the government toward improving the predictability and transparency of the country’s trading laws and processes, says a press release on Thursday (March 10).
This is in line with the government’s commitment to facilitate information sharing, the 7th Five Year Plan which focuses on accelerating economic growth, as well as compliance with Article 1 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement with the World Trade Organization.
The portal stores information relating to existing trade regulations and procedures, including but not limited to laws, administrative procedures, guidance notes, applicable fees, forms, licenses, permits and penalties applicable in case of breach.
In addition, the portal catalogues international, regional and bi-lateral trade agreements to which Bangladesh is a party, including the applicable rules and requirements as well as the benefits devolving there from.
The portal also offers selection of websites of international organizations or institutions that can bring further support to overseas expansion; and enables exporters to undertake trade potential analysis, desk research and market surveys.
Bangladesh Trade Portal seeks to encourage overseas investors that are interested to trade with Bangladesh and provide them with market and regulatory information to help them export to and import from Bangladesh.
The commerce ministry invites the business community, research institutions, community and the public at large to log on to Bangladesh Trade Portal and make the best use of it.
The portal will improve with time as it continues to get regularly updated to deliver a better service to the users.
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed will launch the portal and be present chief guest.
M Masrur Reaz, Program Manager, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice Group, Bangladesh and Abdul Matlub Ahmed, President, FBCCI will address the ceremony as special guests. Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, ndc, commerce ministry senior secretary will chair the launching event.
BDST: 1310 HRS, MAR 10, 2016
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