Bangladesh's Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, on November 23, put forward a 5-point proposal for a digital, green and resilient post-pandemic business recovery as Chair of a high-level Commonwealth B2B connectivity dialogue organised by the Bangladesh High Commission in London in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, on 'Connecting the Commonwealth Private Sector to Support a Digital and Green Recovery' on the occasion of the Bangabandhu's birth centenary.

The proposal included the creation of a Commonwealth B2B connectivity hub and a digital marketplace as well as virtual training and capacity-building programmes for supporting Commonwealth private sectors, women entrepreneurs and SMEs for taking full benefits of e-commerce and cross-border paperless trade.

Recalling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's call for economic emancipation of Commonwealth's less advantaged, small and developing member at the 1973 Ottawa CHOGM, the Commerce Minister said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's rapid digitalisation of Bangladesh economy with 98% mobile banking access and more than 60% internet penetration including the Digital Commerce Policy 2018 has not only spurred a US$ 1 billion e-Commerce industry in Bangladesh but also cushioned its Covid-time economic growth to 5.24%, the highest in Asia".

Moderated by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and the Commonwealth, Saida Muna Tasneem, the high-level event had UK's Minister for Exports RT Hon Graham Stuart MP co-chair with Bangladesh Commerce Minister and Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland present the keynote speech. Bangladesh Commerce Secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin made the introductory remarks at the dialogue.

Bangladesh High Commissioner Tasneem said, "Under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh took up the lead country role for promoting the Commonwealth Business-2- Business Connectivity Agenda at the 2018 London CHOGM and was scheduled to host Commonwealth B2B Conference in Dhaka this November to commemorate Bangladesh's membership at the Commonwealth in 1972 under Bangabandhu's charismatic leadership on the occasion of his birth centenary."

UK Export Minister praised Bangladesh's proactive leadership as the lead country for the Commonwealth's B2B Connectivity Cluster in advancing Commonwealth's trade and business agenda and reiterated UK's commitment as current chair of the Commonwealth to work closely with Bangladesh bilaterally and multilaterally to enhance intra-Commonwealth trade to US$ 2 trillion by 2030. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visionary leadership in keeping Bangladesh at the top of global economic growth charts even during the pandemic was highly commended by the Commonwealth Secretary General who reaffirmed Commonwealth's resolve to work closely with Bangladesh as B2B Connectivity lead country to address the challenges of market access, lack of e-commerce skills and digital trade platforms.

Bangladesh Prime Minister's Adviser for Private Industry and Investment, Salman F Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam also spoke at the ministerial panels of the dialogue along with Malaysia's Minister for Communications and Multimedia Dato' Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, Rwanda's Minister for Trade and Industry Soraya Hakuziyaremye and Jamaica's Minister for Economic Growth and Job Creation Senator Aybn Hill.

Speaking at the event, Salman F Rahman said, "Digital Bangladesh vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for transforming Bangladesh into a digital economy by 2021 recorded a sustained high average growth rate of 7% GDP in last ten years and put Bangladesh among a list of 26 top growth countries. Even during the pandemic, Bangladesh is being considered by the IMF among the five fastest growing economies with 5.24% GDP growth in 2020, in which the digital services and e-commerce played an instrumental role."

Speaking on the greening of the Bangladesh RMG industry, Shahriar Alam said, "Bangladesh hosts 91 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified green garment factories, of which 25 are the highest platinum and the rest gold categories, while 6 of world's top LEED certified RMG factories are in Bangladesh."

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already created Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund using our own financing and pledged at the 2015 Paris Agreement reduction of greenhouse gas emission by 5% voluntarily and 15% with climate financing by 2030," the minister said.

The event, first of its kind, brought together ministers, and apex chamber leaders and trade experts from various Commonwealth regions, including Asia and ASEAN, South Asia, Africa, Europe, Caribbean and the Pacific to discuss how governments and the business sector can work together to deliver a digitally-inclusive and green COVID-19 recovery. Private sector panellists included Chairman of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council Lord Marland, President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Dr Sangita Reddy, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Fazle Fahim, Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council Samantha Cohen CVO, Chairman of Pacific Islands Private Sector Association Stephen Lyon, Business Policy Manager of COMESA (Africa) Business Council Kudzai Madzivanyika, Secretary General of International Chamber of Commerce of the UK Chris Southworth, and Group Head of Zalora Group & World Economic Forum Global Shaper Alin Dobrea.