Dearth of adequate manpower with expertise in WTO issues has handicapped Bangladesh mission in Geneva in playing due part in crucial talks to ensure the country's stake in the world trade, the mission's chief indicated here yesterday.

“We have not adequate manpower… we need more manpower, particularly the expertise to find out the loopholes on the negotiation table,” Dr Toufiq Ali told a discussion.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the meeting to know from the Geneva mission chief about Bangladesh's next strategy on wrapping-up WTO negotiations after Hong Kong ministerial.

Presided over by FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain, the discussion was attended, among others, by FBCCI First Vice

President Mohammad Ali, Vice President Dewan Sultan Ahmed, Director Abdul Wahed, DCCI President MA Momen, BKMEA President M Fazlul Hoque and BTMA Chairman MA Awal.

Speakers at the meeting strongly advocated strengthening the WTO cell of commerce ministry by arming it to the teeth with the latest WTO-related developments for efficiently dealing with the trade issues.

Addressing the meeting, Dr Toufiq Ali said that the next two months are very much important for Bangladesh in terms of safeguarding its interests ahead of the next round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks to be held in Geneva in April.

During this period, Bangladesh will finalize its strategy to get the highest advantages from the negotiation table--which could not be secured at the Hong Kong ministerial for opposition from a developed and some South Asian countries.

“Everyone from both public and private sectors has to contribute level best in this regard,” the diplomat told his business audience.

Emphasising training up some people on WTO issues, the ambassador said better outcome from any negotiation table can be ensured by getting more and more people involved in that very significant issue.

Ali identified lack of coordination between the public and private sectors as a barrier to deriving advantages from the WTO meet.

“Also, private sector is not organised enough. They must have to be organised and have to put forward its need from the WTO,” he observed.

FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain said the last WTO ministerial in Hong Kong allowed duty-free access of 97 percent of exportable products of LDCs to developed countries and left 3 percent of the goods out of the duty cuts.

“It is apprehended that our RMG products will not get duty-free facilities. We have to negotiate vigorously for free access of RMG products,” he pointed out.

He underscored the need for designing a medium-to-long-term strategy to get the best available windows of opportunity and try to make the most out of the flexibility provided under the various S and D provisions, particularly in terms of TRIPs and TRIMs.

Speakers at the meeting advised the Geneva mission chief to strongly argue on the issue of unfettered temporary movement of natural persons (Mode 4).

They also suggested tagging the issue with the Non Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) to get it (Mode 4) approved against the provision of withdrawing agricultural subsidy.