Trade update | 21 April 2023

ICC Australia Banking Committee Plenary Session
ICC Australia Banking Committee chair Hari Hariramchakraborthy opened the session followed by an introduction of ICC Australia and ACCI by Chris Barnes, an overview of ICC Banking Commission Tomasch Kubiak and an example of ICC collaboration presented by Chris Southworth and Mark Borton. The session was well attended by bankers and financial personnel based in Australia, Asia and Europe.   

Call for Nominations – BIAC Policy Group Leaderships 
BIAC is seeking for nominations for vice-chair on its Finance; Consumer Policy; Food and Agriculture; Governance and Regulatory; Innovation and Technology; Trade; and Anti-Illicit Trade Export committees. 

These positions contribute to the work of BIAC, whose committees have the following roles:

• The Finance Committee delivers private sector expertise and perspectives to OECD finance-related activities.
• The Consumer Policy Committee promotes sound industry-led regulation enables consumers to make informed and conscious decisions.
• The Food and Agriculture Policy Committee work on improving energy efficiency in the agri–food chain, transformation of global agri-food systems and innovation in agriculture.  
• The Governance and Regulatory Policy Committee has a key role in developing a global vision for regulatory policy and governance, and to advocate for competitive and transparent regulations for business, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
• The Innovation and Technology Committee communicates private sector perspectives to OECD discussions contributing to increased productivity and economic growth.
• The Trade Committee identifies existing barriers and protectionist measures and promotes its priorities through participation in OECD activities.
• The Anti-Illicit Trade Export Group provide evidence-based and structured input to OECD activities on illicit trade.

Members interested in contributing to these committees are encouraged to express their interest to the ACCI team by 26 April 2023. 

Expressions of interest should be accompanied by a current CV and a short statement outlining their skills and expertise in the policy area concerned. 

Meeting with the new Bangladesh Ambassador

On Tuesday, ACCI Head of Trade and International Affairs Chris Barnes met with the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia M. Allama Siddiki to discuss diversification of Australia-Bangladesh trade opportunities, investment strategies, and an interest in their joint role in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). 

ACCI is the Australian representative on the IORA Business Forum, which Bangladesh currently chairs. 

High Commissioner Siddiki brings a wealth of diplomatic experience in Denmark, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. We welcome him to Canberra and Australia. 

Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in South Asia. With Australian exports of over $2 billion to Bangladesh in 2022, it is the 25th largest export destination for Australian goods and services. Our trade and investment relationship were further enhanced with the conclusion of a Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement between the countries in 2021. Further information on Australian trade and investment with Bangladesh is available here.