Gunner Weigand, Managing Director, European External Action Service (EEAS) says, Bangladesh may soon move from the GSP Plus Scheme to Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme to export Bangladeshi products to the EU. Bangladesh’s current duty-free facility under EBA scheme of the European Union market is set to end in in 2026, as per a Daily Star report. Bangladesh can then be entitled to GSP Plus, provided it meets certain conditions.

Ambassador Jeroen Cooreman, Director General (Bilateral Affairs), Belgian Public Federal Service Foreign Affairs, adds. Belgium follows positive economic development in Bangladesh with keen interest. Meryarne Kitir, Minister of Development Corporation, Belgium will visit Bangladesh this month to mark the 50 years of their establishment of diplomatic relations this year. The two sides will expand cooperation in trade, investment, health and pharmaceuticals, knowledge transfer through academic arrangements, climate change, and many other potential areas of mutual interest in the coming days.

Mahbub Hassan Saleh, Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium and Head of Mission to EU adds, the five decades-long partnership between Bangladesh and EU has moved to a robust trade partnership with half of Bangladesh’s RMG exports destined to the EU. The partnership continues to grow in areas like trade and investment, education and research, development cooperation, climate change, Rohingya crisis, etc. he adds.