European Commission wants to assist Bangladesh through capacity building both in public and private sectors to face the post-MFA situation, especially in export and production sectors.

Esko Kentrschynskyj, ambassador and head of delegation of the European Commission (EC), yesterday said when he had a meeting with Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Abdul Awal Mintoo.

The EC envoy also expressed willingness to help Bangladesh in its

capacity building efforts by providing necessary training through Unctad and financial and technical supports, involving 560 million euro.

He said the EC would provide another 10 million euro for upgradation of the quality and standard of Bangladesh's export products. Besides, they will contribute to Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute about 10 million euro through SEDF. They also have a plan to strengthen the WTO cell, he said.

Kentrschynskyj told the FBCCI president that as a development partner of Bangladesh they are operating various programmes of

economic and technical assistance for education, rural development, trade promotion, technology development and other important sectors of the country. The EC is also interested to take various training programmes for Bangladesh.

Mintoo expressed gratitude for continued EC support for development of the private sector as well as socioeconomic development of the country.

"The EU countries are also our big importers and we get GSP and other special treatment for exportable items," the FBCCI president said.