The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), in collaboration with the British High Commission (BHC), held a roundtable discussion today to explore strategies for enhancing the utilization of the United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) by Bangladeshi exporters. The event, held at the EPB Conference Room, aimed to increase awareness and use of the DCTS, address market access challenges, and expand export opportunities in the UK market.
The roundtable was inaugurated by Mohammad Hasan Arif, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive (Additional Secretary) of the EPB, while James Goldman, Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission in Dhaka, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the UK Government. Ellie Parker, Regional Trade for Development Advisor for South Asia, Central Asia and the South Caucasus at the British High Commission, provided a keynote presentation outlining the implications of Bangladesh’s upcoming graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, recent enhancements to the DCTS, and opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters.
Enhancing Trade Preferences and Market Access
Participants discussed the opportunities and challenges arising from Bangladesh’s transition from LDC status, barriers to accessing the UK market, and lessons from the ready-made garment sector that could help diversify exports into other promising sectors. The meeting emphasized the importance of ensuring that Bangladeshi exporters fully benefit from the preferential market access available under the DCTS.
Initiatives to Improve Awareness and Utilization
To support this objective, the EPB and the British High Commission agreed to undertake a series of awareness and capacity-building initiatives in the coming months. Hasan Arif announced that the EPB would publish a comprehensive DCTS booklet containing practical guidance on eligibility criteria, rules of origin, documentation requirements, and preference utilization procedures. A series of sensitization workshops will be organized in Dhaka and Chattogram in collaboration with the British High Commission, sector associations, and chambers to strengthen exporters’ understanding of the scheme and improve utilization rates.
In addition, both organizations will carry out wider information dissemination activities through business associations and digital platforms to reach exporters across the country. The roundtable was attended by leaders and representatives of several trade and industry bodies, including the Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BCMEA), Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), Banglacraft, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Footwear, Leather Goods and Accessories Exporters Association (FLAXA), Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association, Bangladesh Chamber of Industry (BCI), Bangladesh Agro-Processors Association (BAPA), Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA), and Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI).
Commitment to Continued Collaboration
Participants welcomed the initiative and underscored the need for continued collaboration among the Government of Bangladesh, the British High Commission, and the private sector to maximize the benefits of the DCTS, diversify exports, and strengthen Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the UK market after LDC graduation.
