Newsletter

The 15th meeting of the Private Sector Development Policy Coordination Committee (PSDPCC) was held on 28 October 2025 at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO), chaired by M. Siraz Uddin Miah, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser. The meeting emphasised the need to revisit several trade and investment policies to reduce the cost, time, and procedural barriers to doing business, in order to address post-graduation challenges.

Following introductory remarks by Dr Ahmed Ullah FCMA, Director General, CAO, Ferdaus Ara Begum, CEO of BUILD, made a presentation highlighting that out of the 37 recommendations made during the 14th PSDPCC meeting, 15 have already been implemented. These include the issuance of a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) allowing duty-free import of raw materials for partial exporters, the reduction of duties on chemicals used in the tannery sector, and the utilisation of tannery solid waste in producing value-added products such as gelatin and capsule covers.

Other notable initiatives include the introduction of an escrow policy by the Bangladesh Bank, the use of digital business identification (DBID) for e-commerce and informal entrepreneurs, and progress towards formulating a corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy and amending the Companies Act. She noted that while these represent encouraging steps forward, much remains to be achieved, particularly in advancing leather sector development, solar power generation and other priority areas.

A policy paper on simplifying trade licence issuance and renewal processes was also presented, emphasising the need for a unified policy across all local authorities, implementing a five-year trade licence validity, and reducing undocumented costs.

In his remarks, the Principal Secretary took careful note of the proposals that remain unimplemented and informed the meeting that the government has introduced Nagorik Sheba—a single-window platform for citizen services—through which individuals will be able to access 12 essential services, including the issuance of trade licences.

He advised the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) to form a committee to propose necessary amendments to the Import Policy Order (IPO) in order to ensure UD/UP declarations against back-to-back letters of credit (L/Cs) for partial exporters across all industrial sectors. He also requested the MoC to take steps to implement the export roadmap for the leather sector, developed by BUILD with support from the EC4J project.

In addition, he urged the ministry to take the lead in convening an inter-ministerial meeting to revise the Companies Act 1994 by 15 November 2025. He further emphasised the need for deadline-based implementation, advising the formation of dedicated committees to streamline UD/UP simplification and trade licence-related policies to make the processes more efficient and hassle-free.

Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary, MoC, informed the meeting that the new IPO had already been sent to the Cabinet Division for comments two weeks earlier and would be implemented shortly. He added that the e-commerce policy would be implemented in alignment with the Consumers Protection Act 2025. Responding to issues related to renewable energy, he clarified that unless specifically included in the restricted list, all items are permitted for import under the new policy.

Dr Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), urged the Ministry of Industries (MoI) to play an active role in the national waste management process. She also called upon the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to address tax-related challenges affecting waste management initiatives.

Dr Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury, Executive Chairman, National Skills Development Authority (NSDA), recommended that the Business Identification Number (BIN) could serve as a unique identification number and as an alternative for trade licence and business registration from a single platform. She also offered support from NSDA where required.

Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Secretary, Bridges Division, also contributed and recommended that business support services be kept as simple as possible.

Mohammad Shahjahan Miah, Secretary (in charge), Local Government Division (LGD), informed the meeting that a project is being implemented for trade licence services in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), allowing people to obtain their licences from home. He also mentioned that the LGD has written to the NBR regarding tax-related issues to reduce the burden on those whose incomes fall below the taxable threshold.

Additional Secretary of the Power Division, K. M. Ali Reza, emphasised rooftop solar power and proposed facilitating the easy import of solar products not produced locally to support the sector.

Additional Secretary, MoI, Kazi Shawkat Hossain, discussed the potential for investment in tannery solid waste management and related sectors. Referring to mandatory standards, he supported the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution’s (BSTI) proposal for the inclusion of certain products in the import policy.

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Patwary, Joint Secretary, Internal Resources Division (IRD), informed the meeting that the NBR is in the process of resolving the long-standing issue of the central/common bonded warehouse. A draft SRO has already been prepared and is expected to be approved soon.

Abul Kasem Khan, Chairperson of BUILD, emphasised that the costs and time delays associated with obtaining trade licences remain major barriers to entrepreneurship development in Bangladesh. He proposed that the government consider recognising bank accounts as an alternative to trade licences—a move that would not affect revenue generation but would significantly reduce procedural complexity.

The costs and time delays associated with obtaining trade licences remain significant barriers to entrepreneurship in Bangladesh. Recognising bank accounts as an alternative would not affect revenue generation, but it would significantly reduce procedural complexity.

—BUILD Chairperson

Taskeen Ahmed, President, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), stressed the importance of export diversification, noting that exports from sectors beyond ready-made garments (RMG) are often under-recognised.

Kamran T. Rahman, President, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), called for stronger initiatives to increase the share of solar energy to help achieve the government’s green energy targets.

Syed Nasim Manzur, President of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), urged the government to implement the new IPO without delay, noting that postponements were hindering business operations. He also requested that greater attention be given to sectors with high export potential and suggested that industry associations with proven capacity be allowed to issue UD/UP declarations.

Md Shaheen Ahmed, President, Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA), called upon the government to ensure the procurement of tannery solid waste through DTIEWTECL to improve environmental management in the sector.

High officials from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Public–Private Partnership Authority (PPPA), Finance Division, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Power Division, MoI, Bridges Division, Planning Division, NSDA, Department of Environment (DoE), Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh Bank, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation and BSTI participated in the discussions. Representatives from leading private sector organisations were also present at the meeting.

Geographical indications (GIs) have emerged as important policy tools for linking traditional heritage with modern economic growth, particularly in developing countries. In Bangladesh, the GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 2013 marked a significant step towards recognising products whose value and reputation are intrinsically tied to their geographic origin. Since 2016, Bangladesh has registered 60 products under its sui generis framework, including jamdani, muslin, hilsa, Khirsapat mango and Rajshahi silk. These registrations demonstrate progress in cultural preservation and intellectual property protection. However, the broader economic and developmental objectives of the GI framework remain largely unrealised. The country’s GI regime continues to face challenges in commercialisation, producer participation, institutional coordination and international protection, which together hinder its transformation from a legal instrument into a sustainable economic driver.

The case of jamdani illustrates the gap between heritage recognition and market realisation. As the first GI-registered product and a UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage, jamdani symbolises national pride and craftsmanship. Yet the weavers behind this heritage receive little economic benefit. Weak post-registration strategies, the absence of coordinated commercialisation plans and inadequate enforcement have left many producers trapped in poverty. Most weavers earn between BDT 5,000 and 7,000 per month, while cheap, machine-made Indian versions of jamdani flood local markets due to insufficient quality control and border monitoring. This situation has created what experts call a “paper GI”—a legal recognition without tangible economic gain.

By contrast, the experience of hilsa demonstrates that coordinated, multidimensional policy interventions can yield real outcomes.

The hilsa sector now generates over USD 3 billion annually, accounting for 1.15 per cent of Bangladesh’s GDP and supporting nearly three million livelihoods. Its success was built not merely on GI recognition but on earlier government-led conservation efforts, breeding bans and livelihood diversification.

The contrast between jamdani and hilsa highlights a key lesson: GIs generate economic impact only when embedded in an ecosystem of regulation, sustainability and producer capacity.

Institutional gaps have further constrained Bangladesh’s GI potential. Nearly 90 per cent of all GI registrations have been initiated by government organisations, such as the deputy commissioners’ offices, the Bangladesh Handloom Board and the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), while only 10 per cent come from private associations or producers. This top-down model undermines community ownership and weakens local incentives for quality control and branding.

The Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), which oversees the GI system, operates without a dedicated GI unit or formal advisory council. Limited staffing, poor inter-ministerial coordination and the absence of laboratory and testing facilities further weaken implementation. Moreover, Bangladesh’s exclusion from international protection systems such as the Lisbon Agreement and its Geneva Act leaves it exposed to transboundary disputes. The recent conflict over India’s registration of the “Tangail saree of Bengal” exemplifies this risk. Without stronger legal preparedness and diplomatic engagement, Bangladesh risks losing both economic and cultural ground in shared heritage domains.

The post-least developed country (LDC) transition introduces another structural challenge. With Bangladesh graduating from the LDC category, direct export cash incentives—long used to support sectors such as agriculture, handicrafts and processed food—will no longer be permitted under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. This shift particularly affects agro-based GI sectors, which account for roughly 60 to 70 per cent of all GI registrations. Between financial year (FY) 2023 and 2025, incentive rates on key GI products such as agar-attar and handicrafts have been reduced by up to 60 per cent.

To maintain competitiveness and rural livelihoods, Bangladesh must adopt indirect incentive mechanisms compatible with WTO disciplines, including low-cost financing, production-linked incentives, laboratory support for quality testing and expanded research and development (R&D) funding. These measures can help ensure that GI producers remain viable in global markets even as direct subsidies are phased out.

International experience shows that GIs offer far more than heritage protection. Countries such as India, Vietnam, China, and Italy have established robust institutional systems that connect producers to global value chains. India has over 600 registered GIs and promotes them through embassies and export councils. Vietnam has nearly 1,900 GIs, contributing around 12 per cent to its gross domestic product (GDP), while China’s hybrid system—combining sui generis and trademark protection—covers more than 9,000 products and generates over USD 130 billion in value. By contrast, Bangladesh’s 60 registered GIs yield around USD 1 billion in export earnings.

The way forward lies in building a comprehensive GI ecosystem that combines legal, institutional and market dimensions. A national GI policy supported by an inter-ministerial advisory council is needed to coordinate action among key ministries and agencies. The Trademark Act should be amended to include provisions for collective and certification marks, ensuring stronger quality assurance and market credibility.

A national commercialisation and marketing strategy is essential to position GI products in high-value markets through branding, traceability and producer-led fairs. Bangladesh should pursue international negotiations to accede to the Lisbon Agreement and establish bilateral GI recognition with neighbouring countries to prevent transboundary conflicts. Strengthening producer associations and extending Bangladesh Bank’s cottage, micro, small and medium enterprise (CMSME) refinancing schemes to GI-based enterprises—especially women-led groups—can enhance local ownership and sustainability.

A national GI policy to coordinate actions among key ministries and agencies, along with a national commercialisation and marketing strategy, is essential to position GI products in high-value markets through branding, traceability systems and producer-led fairs.

Ultimately, GIs are more than tools of intellectual property—they represent pathways to inclusive growth and cultural diplomacy. If supported by coherent policies, institutional collaboration and producer empowerment, GIs can become vital instruments for export diversification and rural transformation. Moving beyond mere registration to full commercialisation will allow Bangladesh to turn its heritage assets into global brands, doubling export earnings and improving millions of rural livelihoods. In doing so, the country can redefine “Made in Bangladesh” not just as a mark of origin, but as a symbol of authenticity, quality and shared prosperity.

Ferdaus Ara Begum​
CEO, BUILD