PM Hasina urges EU to extend business facilities up to 6yrs for LDCs

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the European Union (EU) to extend its business facilities (GSP+) for six more years for Bangladesh like developing countries to smoothen its journey towards prosperity after LDC graduation.

"I request the European Union to extend its business facilities for six years instead of three years as Bangladesh like least developed countries (LDCs) have now been under pressure economically due to the Covid-19 pandemic and war," Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told a press briefing quoting the Bangladesh Premier.

While briefing newsmen about Bangladesh Prime Minister's daily engagement in Brussels, he said the extension of business facilities will smoothen the journey of the LDC countries towards prosperity after LDC graduation.

She made the remarks after holding several bilateral talks with European Commission (EC) and European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Parliament leaders.

The Prime Minister, who arrived in Brussels, Belgium on October 24 evening, attended a total of nine events including the opening plenary session of the Global Gateway Forum and other side events including bilateral talks.

Several bilateral talks were held with EC President Ursula von der Leyen, Trade Commissioner and Executive Vice President of EC Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Crisis Management of the EC Janez Lenarcic, Vice-President of the European Parliament Nicola Beer, European Investment Bank President Dr Werner Hoyer and Commissioner for International Partnerships of the EC Jutta Urpilainen.

During the talks, each and every person met her have highly praised Bangladesh's unprecedented development under the prudent leadership of Sheikh Hasina, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, who was present at the meeting.