A delegation led Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Principal Secretary to the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, met with Ms. Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director "Asia and Pacific Department” at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels on March 30.

Other members of the delegation were BGMEA President Faruque Hassan, Commerce Secretary of Bangladesh Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium Mahbub Hassan Saleh, Deputy Head of Mission Preeti Rahman, former President of MCCI Nihad Kabir, and Commercial Counsellor Md. Saiful Azam.

They discussed further deepening of ties between European Union and Bangladesh, Everything But Arms (EBA), labour welfare and rights and other issues of mutual interests.

The delegation apprised Ms. Paola Pampaloni of Bangladesh’s impressive achievements in terms of economic performance and huge progress in terms of key socio-economic fronts where industrial sectors, especially the RMG industry, have significant contribution.

They also gave her an account of how the economic development achieved over the time has impacted the social lives of people positively. 

As Bangladesh is pursuing higher growth vision mostly driven by industrial sector, the country would need support of the EU especially in terms of preferential access to the EU which is the most important market for Bangladesh’s exports. 

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said the EU accounts for about 60% of Bangladesh's exports, of them more than 90% are textile and clothing items.

“We thank the European Union for allowing Bangladesh preferential market access to its market that has helped our industry to come to today’s position. Given the industry’s massive impacts on the lives of millions of people and the economy as a whole, we need to have continued support of the EU, especially in terms of preferential market access for the export sectors including the RMG industry, even after graduation from LDC for sustainable development of Bangladesh.”