Australia’s assistant minister for trade, Senator Tim Ayers, said that despite the transition from a less developed country to a developing country, Australia will continue to provide duty-free and quota-free benefits to Bangladeshi products. The Assistant Minister of Australia confirmed this yesterday, 21st July, during a meeting with Bangladesh High Commissioner M Allama Siddiqui in Australia. Farooq Hasan, president of BGMEA, was present at the meeting held at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Office in Sydney.
High Commissioner Allama Siddiqui highlighted the unprecedented development of Bangladesh in the last decade in socio-economic fields including agriculture, garment industry, remittance, small economy and political stability. He appreciated Australia’s growing interest in Bangladesh. Allama Siddiqui pointed out that there are opportunities in bilateral trade and investment between the two countries in cotton, wool, LNG, economic technology, information technology related services and education and skill development. The High Commissioner of Bangladesh urged the assistant minister of trade affairs of Australia to visit Bangladesh along with business representatives.
Farooq Hasan, President of BGMEA, highlighted various measures taken in the sector for the welfare of workers, including the efficient and sustainable supply system and productivity of Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry. He also informed the Assistant Minister of Australia about the reform programs undertaken at various times in Bangladesh’s garment industry and the goal of BGMEA to achieve ESG by 2030 by establishing more green factories, ensuring equality between men and women, and creating a suitable working environment.
He added, ‘Sustainable trade unions and trade unions are critical to Australia’s trade and government engagement with overseas partners. He expressed interest in increasing trade with Bangladesh in the field of Australian wool and cotton industry. Tim Ayers also emphasized on taking the Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) signed in 2021 between Bangladesh and Australia to the next level.
Currently, a delegation of 11 members of BGMEA is visiting Australia and on July 18 organized a conference on the garment industry in Melbourne in collaboration with the Bangladesh High Commission.
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