The new government in Bangladesh will seek to defer the country’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) status by at least three years as per the ruling party’s policy position, according to Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir.

Bangladesh is scheduled to graduate from the LDC category to developing-nation status on November 24 this year, having already met all three UN criteria—income, human assets and economic and environmental vulnerability.

Bangladesh will seek to defer graduation from the least developed country status by at least three years as per the party’s policy position, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said.
The Economic Relations Division will lead the process, while the commerce ministry will formally initiate the procedure.
Domestic businesses had been lobbying the last interim government for such a deferral.

The Economic Relations Division (ERD) will lead the process, while the commerce ministry will formally initiate the procedure, he said.

The country’s businesses had been lobbying the last interim government for such a deferral.

Sixteen major business chambers and trade bodies had sent a letter to the interim government requesting LDC graduation be postponed for at least six years, citing high interest rates and the economic challenges faced by various sectors due to the fallouts of COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron recently welcomed a sustained growth in bilateral trade and agreed to elevate relations to a ‘special global strategic partnership’ to guide bilateral cooperation in the coming decades.

Macron was on an official visit to India from February 17 to 19 to participate in the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit 2026.

Indian PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have welcomed a sustained growth in bilateral trade and agreed to elevate relations to a ‘special global strategic partnership’ to guide bilateral cooperation in the coming decades.
They established an annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue for reviewing bilateral cooperation and implementation of the elevated partnership.

Both leaders jointly inaugurated the 2026 India-France Year of Innovation in Mumbai.

They established an annual Foreign Ministers Comprehensive Dialogue for regularly reviewing the progress of bilateral cooperation and implementation of the elevated partnership, a joint statement issued after the visit said.

Both countries are cooperating on building trusted, reliable and resilient supply chains, as well as safeguarding their economic security.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), recognising its transformational potential in reshaping and promoting global trade, connectivity and prosperity.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

Cambodia’s garments, footwear and travel goods (GFT) sector earned nearly $1.49 billion from exports in January this year—an increase of 12.8 per cent year on year (YoY), according to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE).

The sector accounted for 51 per cent of Cambodia’s total exports in the month.

Garments dominated, with knitted apparel contributing more than $640 million (5.7-per cent YoY growth), followed by non-knitted garments at $410 million (8.3-per cent YoY growth). Together, apparel exports alone accounted for over $1.05 billion, reflecting steady demand from key markets such as the United States, the European Union, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Cambodia’s garments, footwear and travel goods sector earned $1.49 billion from exports in January—a 12.8-per cent YoY rise.
The sector accounted for 51 per cent of the total monthly exports.
Knitted apparel contributed over $640 million (5.7-per cent YoY growth), followed by non-knitted garments at $410 million (8.3-per cent YoY growth).
Footwear exports reached $196 million—a 16.9-per cent YoY growth.

More orders from the West and partial inventory normalisation backed shipment volumes compared with the volatility seen earlier, according to a domestic media outlet.

Footwear exports reached $196 million showing 16.9-per cent YoY growth during the month, while leather goods and travel articles added another $201 million, showing the strongest 66-per cent YoY growth. Other made-up textile articles contributed $41.5 million (41.7 per cent YoY growth).

Industry stakeholders, however, caution that risks, including soaring energy costs, competition from regional peers and evolving sustainability requirements from global buyers, remain.

However, ongoing investments in logistics, renewable energy use in factories and upgradation of skills are expected to support medium-term growth in the sector.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)