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Dhaka for FTA talks with Turkey
Asif Showkat Kallol Commerce
The government took this decision at a meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday
Flags of Bangladesh and Turkey
Bangladesh would request Turkey to start talks on free trade agreement between the two countries.
The government took this decision at a meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The commerce ministry decided to send a pamphlet on the proposed FTA to the government of Turkey so they could take preparation for talks, officials said after the meeting.
Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed chaired the meeting that also expected starting negotiation with Malaysia to sign FTA as the ministry has already sent a draft proposal to sign FTA. The draft includes a proposal to export workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia.
An official, who attended the meeting, said the commerce ministry would send the pamphlet to the economics ministry of Turkey through foreign ministry.
Another official said the letter contains proposals on customs procedure, trade facilities, investment opportunities, standardisation of products, and sanitation securities for trade of goods between the two countries (Bangladesh and Turkey).
The main hurdle of signing the FTA between Bangladesh and Turkey is the need for permission from the European Customs Union, he said. “We hope Bangladesh will first sign the FTA with Malaysia.”
Meanwhile, leading exporters said Malaysia can be a potential market for Bangladeshi readymade garments, frozen foods and leather goods as exporters are increasingly showing interest to explore market in the country.
Malaysia legalised some 267,000 Bangladeshi workers recently who had become the victims of unscrupulous manpower agents. Currently, there are some 400,000 Bangladeshis working in Malaysia, mostly in manufacturing, construction, plantations, agriculture and services sectors. Expatriate workers in Malaysia send some $13bn every year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Turkey in April 2012 and had talks about signing of the FTA to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
- See more at: Dhaka for FTA talks with Turkey | Dhaka Tribune
1. Bangladesh applied sanctions on Turkey when the AKP regime attempted to support fundamentalists and extremists of the Jamaat e Islami in a war crimes case.
2. Since then the Turkish government has moderated its behaviour but that may have cost it hundreds and millions, if not billions in lost deals. It has also cast a black stain over the AKP government.
3. However aside from the AKP party, Turkey and Bangladesh in general are close allies, with Bengalis supporting the Turkish war of independence and fighting in it with even Mustafa Kemal recognizing their efforts, [MENTION=3580]asad71[/MENTION].
Bangladesh also supported Turkey over the Turkish capture of northern Cyprus - unlike the Arab world - and was prepared to recognize northern Cyprus but was threatened by the Americans.
Controversial AKP leader, Abdullah Gul, in Bangladesh. Gul is deeply unpopular amongst many sectors of Turkish society and gets booed at sporting events. He has also been criticized for breaching diplomatic protocol and trying to support war criminals in Bangladesh, which provoked Dhaka to apply sanctions.
Asif Showkat Kallol Commerce
The government took this decision at a meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday
Flags of Bangladesh and Turkey
Bangladesh would request Turkey to start talks on free trade agreement between the two countries.
The government took this decision at a meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The commerce ministry decided to send a pamphlet on the proposed FTA to the government of Turkey so they could take preparation for talks, officials said after the meeting.
Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed chaired the meeting that also expected starting negotiation with Malaysia to sign FTA as the ministry has already sent a draft proposal to sign FTA. The draft includes a proposal to export workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia.
An official, who attended the meeting, said the commerce ministry would send the pamphlet to the economics ministry of Turkey through foreign ministry.
Another official said the letter contains proposals on customs procedure, trade facilities, investment opportunities, standardisation of products, and sanitation securities for trade of goods between the two countries (Bangladesh and Turkey).
The main hurdle of signing the FTA between Bangladesh and Turkey is the need for permission from the European Customs Union, he said. “We hope Bangladesh will first sign the FTA with Malaysia.”
Meanwhile, leading exporters said Malaysia can be a potential market for Bangladeshi readymade garments, frozen foods and leather goods as exporters are increasingly showing interest to explore market in the country.
Malaysia legalised some 267,000 Bangladeshi workers recently who had become the victims of unscrupulous manpower agents. Currently, there are some 400,000 Bangladeshis working in Malaysia, mostly in manufacturing, construction, plantations, agriculture and services sectors. Expatriate workers in Malaysia send some $13bn every year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Turkey in April 2012 and had talks about signing of the FTA to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
- See more at: Dhaka for FTA talks with Turkey | Dhaka Tribune
1. Bangladesh applied sanctions on Turkey when the AKP regime attempted to support fundamentalists and extremists of the Jamaat e Islami in a war crimes case.
2. Since then the Turkish government has moderated its behaviour but that may have cost it hundreds and millions, if not billions in lost deals. It has also cast a black stain over the AKP government.
3. However aside from the AKP party, Turkey and Bangladesh in general are close allies, with Bengalis supporting the Turkish war of independence and fighting in it with even Mustafa Kemal recognizing their efforts, [MENTION=3580]asad71[/MENTION].
Bangladesh also supported Turkey over the Turkish capture of northern Cyprus - unlike the Arab world - and was prepared to recognize northern Cyprus but was threatened by the Americans.
Controversial AKP leader, Abdullah Gul, in Bangladesh. Gul is deeply unpopular amongst many sectors of Turkish society and gets booed at sporting events. He has also been criticized for breaching diplomatic protocol and trying to support war criminals in Bangladesh, which provoked Dhaka to apply sanctions.
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