Speakers at a workshop in Chittagonghas called for speedy roll out of National Single Window for reducing the time and cost of doing business in the country.
Simultaneously, they have called for formulation of national logistics policy and decreasing the release time of goods from ports through increased automation.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) organized the workshop styled‘Trade Facilitation for Improving the Competitiveness: Challenges and Way Forward’in collaboration with the Chittagongdistrict administration.
ERD Secretary Sharifa Khangraced the occasion as chief guest whileVice Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) A H M Ahsan, Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram Md. Tofael Islam and Member of the Chattogram Port Authority Md. Habibur Rahmanattended the event as special guests.
Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakhruzzaman chaired the workshop.
Speaking on the occasion, ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan underscored the importance of greater coordination between relevant agencies for improving the trade facilitation measures in the country.
Vice Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) AHM Ahsan, in his speech, put emphasis on enhanced use of online platforms for easing the export and import related procedures.
Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram Md. Tofael Islam expressed his hope that recommendations coming from the workshop would provide important inputs into relevant policy making.
Member of the Chattogram Port Authority Md. Habibur Rahmansaid that Enhancing the capacity of our seaports can transform Bangladesh into a connectivity hub between the South Asia and South-East Asia.
Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakhruzzaman observed that Bangladeshi exporters can double their capacity by utilizing the Matarbari deep sea port and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.
Additional Secretary of ERD and the Project Director of SSGP Mr. Farid Aziz delivered the welcome remarks of the event.
Aziz, in his welcome remarks, emphasized on sensitizing the local private sector representatives, especially the export-oriented industries about the opportunities to be created by LDC graduation of the country.
Component Manager of Support to Sustainable Graduation Project of ERD Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan delivered the keynote presentation of the event.
Commissioner of Chattogram Customs House M. Faizur Rahman, President of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce & Industry Omar Hazzaz, Chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association Syed Mohammad Arif and Senior Vice President of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association Amirul Islam Chowdury also spoke during the event as designated discussant.
Officials from ERD and SSGP, officials from the district administration as well as representatives from the private sector and civil society organizations participated in the workshop.
