Chile is said to be considering allowing duty free access to readymade garments from Bangladesh starting next year. This was reiterated by the Ambassador of Chile on his visit to Bangladesh. For now, Chilean businessmen have to pay six per cent duty on import of RMG items from Bangladesh and if the country allows duty free access then the volume of exports from Bangladesh would witness a significant rise. To increase trade in the Latin American market, a team of BGMEA had visited Brazil, Argentina and Mexico in 2011 and found good opportunity for exporting Bangladeshi goods especially RMG items.
Also now, Bangladeshi businessmen have to collect their Chilean Visa from New Delhi, India, so they have urged the Chile government to open a consulate office in Bangladesh keeping regular visits of both countries' businessmen in sight. As per the BGMEA data, Bangladesh exported RMG goods worth $15 million to Chile during the fiscal year 2012-13.
Except RMG items Chile has granted duty-free and quota-free market access to the Bangladeshi products in 2013 in order to strengthen bilateral trade between the two nations. The bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $30.37 million during the FY 2012- 13.
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