Bangladesh urges continued trade preferences for LDC graduates

Bangladesh has urged developed Commonwealth countries to continue offering preferential trade access to nations graduating from the least developed country (LDC) category to help them manage the economic transition smoothly.
Acting Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir made the call at the executive session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at the American University of Antigua Conference Centre in St John’s on Tuesday, according to a press release from the foreign ministry.
Leading the Bangladesh delegation, Kobir also highlighted barriers to smooth supply chains and trade among Commonwealth members, calling for collective efforts to unlock the bloc’s vast intra-Commonwealth trade potential.
The session brought together heads of government, foreign ministers and delegation leaders from the Commonwealth’s 56 member states.
Participants called for stronger cooperation in intra-Commonwealth trade and investment, private-sector financing, climate finance, reforms to global financial and trading systems, and youth skills development and entrepreneurship.
Kobir was accorded full cabinet ministerial status to lead the Bangladesh delegation and perform the duties of the foreign minister at the 28th CHOGM, being held in Antigua and Barbuda from 1 to 4 November.