EU Is Planning to Host Meeting on Staying Engaged in Bangladesh

EU Trade Commissioner Karl De Gucht will be hosting a meeting in Geneva entitled "Staying Engaged – A Sustainability Compact with Bangladesh" on July 8, 2013.
 
The high level discussion will focus on agreeing on ways for continued improvements to trade and sustainable development in the readymade garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh, in particular in the areas of respecting labour rights, safety and health at work, and responsible business conduct, according to a statement.
 
The meeting is expected to be attended by representatives of the Government of Bangladesh, including the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, Dr. Dipu Moni, the Government of the United States, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as well as representatives of employees, industry and employers.
 
While the US has withdrawn its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) privileges to Bangladesh following the Tazreen factory fire and the Rana Plaza building collapse, the EU continues to provide the GSP facility to all products from Bangladesh under its Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme.
 
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson has assured Bangladesh of UK’s continuous support to the South Asian nation in improving safety and work conditions in Bangladesh garment factories.
 
Mr. Gibson said the garment industry has a significant role in the development of Bangladesh and laid emphasis on improvements in workers’ safety, work environment and fire safety, a media release said.