A varied and inspiring group of Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs from eight enterprises will conduct a UK trade trip in February 2025 with funding from the UK Government She Trades Programme.
According to a news release, they will meet with UK investors, lawmakers, and business leaders to encourage cross-border commerce, particularly under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).
The UK generously offers Bangladesh duty-free, quota-free commerce on all goods except armaments under the DCTS. Bangladesh has the biggest DCTS tariff savings potential, £317m, on its UK exports.
The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh on 3 February, Sarah Cooke organised a send-off reception at her home to fete the entrepreneurs before they left for the UK.
This initiative by the International Trade Centre will bring fifty women-led businesses from four Asian countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Mongolia) and six African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique) to Manchester on 11 February for B2B meetings with UK companies.
British buyers will meet with women-led fresh and processed food, textiles and clothing, handicrafts, beauty, IT, and BPO companies to diversify their supply chains and boost product competitiveness.
TMSS ICT and Handicrafts, Super Tel, Opus Technology, Tarango Bangladesh, Parijat Bangladesh, TANIS Bangladesh, and Leathering are the Bangladeshi companies picked
Five of these enterprises have the certification needed to join the UK market, while the other three are being accredited by the British Standard Institute (BSI).
UK International Development’s She Trades Commonwealth+ Programme funds this Mission, organised by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
The London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Greater Birmingham Chambers, and West & North Yorkshire Chamber also support the event.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke stated, “The UK government is incredibly proud to support this remarkable group of Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs to develop new markets in the UK. Bangladeshi women-led firms have enormous potential due to their creativity, persistence, and enterprising spirit.
“The UK will remain a dependable partner as Bangladesh and the UK expand bilateral trade through the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). This trade trip will strengthen our trade and investment ties, said Sarah Cooke.