IBFB Leaders raised revival of GSP issue to U.S. State Department

Mr. Kurt W. Tong, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs (2nd from right), Mr. Hafizur Rahman Khan, President of IBFB (3rd from right), Mr. Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, Founding President of IBFB (right) and Mr. Gilbert Morton, Officer for Bangladesh Affairs in the State Department (left) are seen in a photo session after a meeting in U.S. State Department in Washington DC.

The business leaders of International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) strongly raised the issue of revival of GSP facilities of Bangladeshi products in the U.S. market in a meeting with the U.S. State Department in USA. Mr. Hafizur Rahman Khan, President of IBFB & Chairman of Runner Group of Companies and Mr. Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, Founding President of IBFB, Chairman of Khan Bahadur Group & former  Mayor of Chittagong, discussed about GSP issue in a meeting with the officials at the U.S. State Department held on Tuesday, 03 Nov 2015 in Washington DC. Apart from IBFB leaders, Mr. Kurt W. Tong, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Mr. Gilbert Morton, Officer for Bangladesh Affairs in the State Department and other officials were present in the meeting.

The IBFB leaders reiterated in the meeting that Bangladesh has already fulfilled almost all U.S. conditions and therefore, it is the right time for revival of GSP. They opined, if GSP facilities are restored, it will enhance bilateral trade relationship by reducing trade gaps between USA and Bangladesh. IBFB leaders also discussed about Bangladesh investment climate, opportunities of FDI, especially U.S. companies to invest in Bangladesh and other business issues in the meeting. In response to the invitation from IBFB leaders, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary has agreed to visit Bangladesh and attend the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of IBFB to be held in the next year in Dhaka.

The IBFB leaders left Dhaka on Monday, 26 October 2015 for a business tour to USA. Earlier they attended an international conference titled “Discover Global Markets - Pacific Rim Consumers” held on 28 October 2015 at Los Angeles, USA. They also had meetings with U.S.-Bangladesh Business Forum, Richardson Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders in Texas, USA. IBFB leaders will also have meetings with Department of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce, International Republican Institute (IRI), Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Democracy International and different others business associations and international organizations in USA.