Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board Resigns

Bangladeshi products will now enjoy full duty-free access to Chinese markets, following an announcement made after a meeting between the newly appointed Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh and the Chinese Ambassador. The Ambassador noted that in early September, during the Sino-Africa summit, China committed to providing 100% duty-free access to least developed countries, including Bangladesh. 

Egypt seeks to enhance trade relations with Bangladesh by suggesting the import of petrochemicals and fertilizers. During a recent meeting with the president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the Egyptian ambassador noted that despite 50 years of diplomatic ties, bilateral trade was only $180.55 million in FY 2022-23.

He highlighted that an Egyptian company is already successfully operating in Bangladesh's telecommunications sector and encouraged Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in Egypt’s pharmaceutical market, especially for cance

ndia's share in global trade has lagged behind its rapid economic growth, with countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam surpassing it as manufacturing and export hubs, according to a recent World Bank report. India's share of global exports in apparel, leather, textiles, and footwear (ALTF) peaked at 4.5% in 2013 but dropped to 3.5% by 2022. Meanwhile, Bangladesh and Vietnam grew their shares to 5.1% and 5.9%,

The board of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) resigned on September 2, 2024, following calls from some business groups for its dissolution and new elections. The 24-member board, including its former president, was elected on August 6, 2023, and assumed office on September 7, 2023. The outgoing board has formally requested the Ministry of Commerce to appoint an administrator to manage the chamber's affairs until a new board is elected.

The Bangladesh government may not promote the use of Indian ports for rerouting business activities, as a local deep-sea port is being developed and there are no clear benefits currently demonstrated for such rerouting. Following a secretary-level meeting between India and Bangladesh in Dhaka, the delegation visited Indian ports and requested a report detailing the potential benefits for Bangladesh if it agreed to the proposal. However, according to the joint secretary, no response has been received yet.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh "Nguyen Manh Cuong" emphasized the growing friendship between Vietnam and Bangladesh and called for further exploration of untapped potential in their bilateral relations. He expressed Vietnam's deep appreciation for Bangladesh's longstanding support and highlighted the strong ties between the two nations over the past 51 years. Both countries share common goals in national development and have continued to strengthen cooperation in various sectors, including rail transport, labor protection, and social security. The ambassador also noted the frequent exchange of delegations at ministerial levels, which reflects the deepening partnership.