Diplomatic Desk:
Bangladesh’s economic progress is entering a new and important phase, said Michael Miller, the European Union Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh.
He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 20th Bangladesh Denim Expo held at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital.
Ambassador Miller said that Bangladesh is now at a stage where economic growth needs to be made more sustainable and quality. In this regard, he mentioned that creating quality employment, developing skilled human resources, attracting high-quality investment, diversifying the economy and switching to clean energy are very important.
He also said that Bangladesh needs to take effective preparations now to graduate from the status of a least developed country (LDC). At the same time, he expressed his expectation for a bold and sustainable development-oriented budget, which will ensure an investment-friendly environment and create equal opportunities for European businessmen.
The EU Ambassador said that on behalf of the President of the European Commission, he has extended an invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the Global Gateway Summit to be held in Brussels. He added that the EU is currently reviewing the possibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) based on the ongoing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Bangladesh and the European Union, which will further deepen economic cooperation between the two sides.
Ambassador Michael Miller mentioned the potential of Bangladesh’s garment and denim industry as important in global competitiveness and emphasized the importance of working together towards sustainable development.
