Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bangladesh has proposed the formation of a common textile market, common garment brands, transfer of appropriate technology and a common fund for industrial development for the Developing 8 (D-8) countries.
The proposals were made at the first day of the 7th Meeting of the D-8 Working Group on Industrial Cooperation held in the capital Dhaka on Monday.
The participants at the workshops discussed a common standard of economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of tariff, duty-free export and import and technical cooperation, Abu Abdullah, director general of Bangladesh Accreditation Board under the Ministry of Industries (MoI), told reporters after the meeting.
The participants also exchanged views on possible cooperation and opportunities to explore new markets.
At one of the workshops Turkey proposed framing of a guideline on academic/research capabilities.
Indonesia proposed harmonization of textile testing standards and Egypt proposed formation of a common body among the D-8 countries to facilitate investments and finalizing a focal point for each country as soon as possible.
Mr. Abu Abdullah also said participants from Iran and Nigeria enquired about the tariff imposed on tractors and spare parts by Bangladesh. The representative from Iran offered a joint venture investment to produce tractors in Bangladesh.
At the workshop on task force meeting on machinery, Dr. Mojurul Alam, professor of the Department of Farm Power and Machinery of Bangladesh Agricultural University in his key note paper said there should be opportunities to manufacture agricultural machinery and spare parts.
He also emphasized the need for cooperation among the D-8 countries in establishing a Common Facility Centre, duty-free access to D-8 markets, development of local foundries and adopting policies for importing raw materials.
Apart from Bangladesh, around 150 delegates from seven other member countries, namely Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey, attended the first day’s workshops.
The participants were divided into six groups to exchange their views on six separate topics-textile and garments, energy and environmental conservation, food industries, technology-related cooperation, petrochemicals and fertiliser, and cement.
The participants of the member countries are scheduled to exchange views on steel, automotive industry, standardisation, conformity assessment, accreditation and metrology, SMEs, electronics and IT, and machinery today (Tuesday), the second day of the Working Group meeting before the D-8 Ministerial Meeting to be held on Wednesday, the third day.
BBN/SSR/AD-09Oct12-11:45 am (BST)
