Lower-level officials barrier to trade reforms: Salman F Rahman

High officials of the government are sincere to bringing reforms required for trade facilitation, but those of lower-level do not have such mind-set, said Salman F Rahman, Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister.

He urged the top officials to come forward to face this challenge.

He made the remarks at a webinar titled ‘Improving Trade Facilitation for Export Competitiveness: Progress, lessons and Policy Priorities for Bangladesh’.

The webinar was organized by Policy Research Institute (PRI) in the capital on Wednesday.

Salman at the webinar said the government is doing necessary works to increase the capacity of Chittagong Port, build Matarbari Deep Sea Port and Kamalapur-Gazipur Logistics Corridor for boosting trade facilities.

Although the higher-level officials of the government have a positive attitude towards these works, it is not being implemented due to the reluctance of lower-level officials, he added.

M Masrur Reaz, Chairman of the Policy Exchange, presented the key note presentation and noted that trade facilitation leads to enhanced competitiveness, more exports and jobs.

To improve trade facilitation Reaz highlighted ten recommendations including quick implementation of the National Single Window (NSW), application of Risk-based customs control for reduced inspection and understanding of the political economy.

A. Mannan Sikder, Member of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said National Single Window facility will come into operation very soon.

From the window, a business man will get online services of 29 government agencies.

Md Hafizur Rahman, Director General of WTO Cell of Commerce Ministry, said although transit is a major issue in increasing trade facilitation, no development partner is available to help in this regard.

Habibullah N. Karim, VicePresident of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said business cost keeps increasing.

The tenure of the licenses that businesses have to obtain should be increased from one year to 2-5 years to reduce both cost and time of doing business, said Fazlul Hoque, former president of BKMEA.

Discussing export diversification, speakers suggested that the potential leather industry should be taken forward.

In this context Asif Ibrahim, Director of BMGEA, said that Savar Leather Industrial City should be transferred from BCIC to a department like BEPZA.