Faruque Hassan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), held a meeting with Rakesk Patry, Director General of International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, along with Pierre Bouchard, Director of Bilateral and Regional Labour Affairs, the Government of Canada.
The meeting took place at the High Commission of Canada in Dhaka on September 27 and saw the participation of key representatives from both sides.
The meeting was attended by H.E Lilly Nicholls, High Commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh, Ms. Debra Boyce, Senior Trade Commissioner, Joe Goodings, Head of Cooperation, Ms. Siobhan Kerr, Second Secretary, Political, and Kamal Uddin, Senior Trade Commissioner at the High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh.
Miran Ali, Vice President of BGMEA, ANM Saifuddin, Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Labour and ILO Affairs, and Shams Mahmud, Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Foreign Mission Cell, were also present at the meeting.
A wide array of issues were discussed, ranging from mutual interests to the prospects of fostering stronger trade relations between Bangladesh and Canada.
Both sides discussed the implications of Bangladesh’s LDC graduation on its trade and the economy, as well as the readiness to maintain growth in the post-LDC era.
In the meeting, President Faruque Hassan provided an insightful overview of Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry, emphasizing the remarkable strides made in workplace safety, workers rights and environmental sustainability.
He also spotlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure workers’ rights and well-being, particularly the government’s labour reform initiatives and the minimum wage review.
Recognizing Canada as a pivotal trade and development partner, President Faruque Hassan expressed optimism that Canada will continue to extend favorable trade access to Bangladesh.
He underscored the potential for both countries to further bolster trade and investment through collaborative efforts.
