DHAKA: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) assured that they would help Bangladesh get the benefits from the World Trade Organization (WTO).

UNCTAD secretary general Dr Mukhisa Kituyi made assertion when he called on commerce minister Tofail Ahmed at the secretariat on Sunday.

The minister said UNCTAD always cooperate Bangladesh as a developing country to get their logical rights.

He also sought the assistance for implementing the proposals approved in Doha Round and Bali Package.

Regarding Bangladesh’s tax and quota free facilities in the developed countries, the minister said that many of the countries are giving this facility except the USA.

The USA has kept Bangladesh’s major readymade garment products out of the facilities, he added.

Tofail said that every year Bangladesh gives $828 million as tax to the USA but they give nothing in exchange of that.

However, mentioning that Bangladesh is in the right path of development, the UNCTAD secretary general Dr Mukhisa Kituyi said the main target of trade is to improve the level of people’s lifestyle as well as decrease poverty.

Dr Kituyi expressed hope that Bangladesh would come out from the image of a developing country soon as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased to six percent.

He said now the country can expect to match the steps with the world economy. But to achieve this target, the country’s political leaders should think about the sustainable development and trade policy and it should be continued.

BDST: 2026 HRS, OCT 26, 2014