Access to EU: APTMA chairman terms Bangladesh objection 'unfounded'
Earlier this week, Bangladesh raised concerns about the impact of the European measures, which would make it easier for Pakistan to export textiles to Europe. Bangladesh competes with Pakistan for textile sales to the European market.
Referring to Bangladesh’s reservations, the APTMA chairman also said that Pakistan could never be a threat to the Bangladesh textile industry in the EU market.
He termed the move “unfair” and said that Pakistan’s stance has always been to let objected let Bangladesh grow in the EU market. Bangladesh exports to the EU have reached $16 billion in the textile sector today from merely $2billion a few years back, he said.
Pakistan, he said, has peaked to a mere $1.5billion in a market of $80 billion in total.
Aziz also asserted that Bangladesh has developed strong inroads to the EU due to its Least Developed Country (LDC) status and therefore enjoys a favourable environment and market access.
He justified Pakistan’s qualification for market access to the EU on grounds of humanity, comparing it to Bangladesh after being hit severely hit by natural calamities and terrorism.
“Pakistan needs a special favour and a brotherly country like Bangladesh should not oppose it,” he said,
The APTMA chairman urged the federal government and the ministry of commerce to take up the issue in the larger interest of the country’s exports. He said this issue is more important than the MFN status to India and demands the immediate attention of policymakers.
A Bangladeshi official on Wednesday said that the complaint may be withdrawn.Bangladeshi officials also said that their Pakistani counterparts had “unofficially” raised the matter on the sidelines of an ongoing South Asian leaders’ summit in the Maldives.
COMMENTS (9)
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Rather than bad mouthing, i will suggest officials to take Bangladesh into confidence and see what their demands are? Looks like we were not clear on this issue and only concentrated on India.
Stop exporting yarn / fabrics to Bangladesh and then see if they could really compete globally. We are such a weird country, despite being one of the largest producer of cotton, we export all to countries competing with us globally. We should sell it locally and make value added industry more stronger. They do 1 bln export of cotton which could easily be converted into 7-8 billion if handed over to value added industry locally..
@hanbali Ahmed: We are NOT close to india but the current undemocratic Awami Regime is.A autocratic regime doesn't represent its people. How can we be close to a nation that wanted to subjugate us after independence and conspired to kill one of our president Zia ur rahman.Our economic situation is as bad as yours thanks to india's balant interference. Don't detest your muslim brothers based on propaganda and by the way BD is worried because our economic situation is as bad as yours so competition from PAK is worrisome for BD .
@pundit : Bro where did you get such Stats from. I would have been happy if it was true. Our total exports amount to about 25 bn with US being the largest market(about 32%) . So the 16bn doesnot add up does it? Textile sector amounted for 15bn(80%) of the total export in 2009 , so where did you get the 16bn figure to EU?
time to stop whining..... Bangladesh has no objections these are rumours... this is Indian conspiratorial movements...
"Bangladesh exports to the EU have reached $16 billion in the textile sector today from merely $2billion a few years back, he said. Pakistan, he said, has peaked to a mere $1.5billion in a market of $80 billion in total. Aziz also asserted that Bangladesh has developed strong inroads to the EU due to its Least Developed Country (LDC) status and therefore enjoys a favourable environment and market access."
So 16 Bn is at stake for Bangladesh!
Does the Least Developed Country (LDC) status imparts any concessional tariffs to Bangladesh as sought by Pakistan?
Mr Haq you could have covered these aspetcs!
@hanbali Ahmed: I think they have good reason to be so.
Bangladesh are campaigning to keep subsidy. Why are they asking EU to prevent other nations from getting same zero rate preferences. If bangladesh cant compete without EU subsidies then what are they proud of?
we can never trust bangladesh after the partition. They are more close to India than Pakistan.
Come on Bangla bahiyun, be generous now!