WE would like to congratulate the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Its Bangladesh National Committee for deciding to hold its Asia session In Bangladesh. As a newspaper deeply committed to the development of Bangladesh and especially of its private sector wc are very keen to see this conference come out with specific action plan Io help countries like Bangladesh benefit from the globalisation process. We have been one of the foremost countries within the developing world to energetically embrace liberalisation policies. We brought down tariff barrier and liberalised our monetary and Investment policies earlier and faster than most countries at our level of development. Our Idea was to go the whole hog in this process instead of going piecemeal.

However we must regretfully observe that the international community has not appropriately rewarded us for our efforts. While we have brought down our tariff wall as per the decisions of the WTO. yet we have not been given the tariff. Investment and market access privileges that we are entitled to under its own provisions. As a least developed country we need and expect a greater International understanding and support for our efforts.

What we need is market access -- both in the developed world and also in the developing. Making regional groups is one of the ways to gafn market access. Here also South Asia seems to be in a bad shape, as SAARC remains trapped In the quagmire of Indo-Pak conflict. Our experiments with BIMSTEC and D-8 are vet to take off. Market access is one issue we expect the ICC conference to take a serious look Into. Without market access for goods from countries like ours, the dream of a liberalised and mutually competing world will remain confined to a few industrialised countries only. The negative consequence of such an eventuality can easily be imagined.

There is also the question of FDI. The develdping world is failing to attract foreign Investment to the extent that we need. We understand that we have many flaws. But the world docs not seem to realise the benefit that we have to offer. What we need is greater visibility In the international market. But visibility costs large amounts of money, which we do not have. Here the ICC through Its country chapters can help us get greater profile in the developed country markets. We expect this conference to adopt some specific measures in this regard.

Let us remind the conference participants that mere speeches and pious words no longer interest us. We have heard them too many times in the past and have had our expectation dashed by believing them. Events at Seattle and those that followed amply demonstrated the disillusionment of the underprivileged to the globalisation process. Though not organised by the developing countries, these demonstrations reflect the deeply held sentiments In countries like ours.

Let us work together - the developed and the developing world - to make ours a better world. We expect the ICC-Asla conference to give us some guidelines in that direction.