As per experts, if technical and non-tariff barriers are addressed properly, Bangladesh’s export volume to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN can reach up to US $ 1.2 billion from the present US $ 60 million in 4 years.

They made this claim at a webinar organised recently.

Participating in the same, the President of the apex garment makers’ body, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association-BGMEA, Dr. Rubana Huq underlined ASEAN as a bloc would be the 4th largest economy in the world by 2030, and to enter that market Bangladesh should negotiate signing an FTA with a Rules of Origin clause favourable to the ASEAN.

Chaired by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, the Sunday’s webinar was attended by officials of Foreign and Commerce ministries and Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, Bangladesh Ambassadors and High Commissioners posted to the South East Asian countries, representatives from host of exporters’ associations and various Chambers of Commerce having business interests with the ASEAN countries.

Underlining that Bangladesh has high potential to enter the ASEAN market, the speakers also suggested organising single country product fairs frequently and observed upon Bangladeshi businesses’ need to set up branches there.