Bangladesh Books Boeing Jets to Bridge Trade Deficit
In a move aimed at reducing the country’s trade deficit, Bangladesh has placed an order for 25 aircraft from American aerospace giant Boeing, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman revealed on Sunday, July 27. He shared the information while speaking to journalists at his office at the Ministry of Commerce.
"The Boeing business is not run by the U.S. government, it's done by the Boeing company. We have placed an order for 25 aircraft from Boeing," the secretary stated. “Similarly, India and Vietnam are purchasing 100, and Indonesia 50 Boeing aircraft,” he added.
Previously, Bangladesh had an order for 14 aircraft. The decision to expand the order to 25 was made as part of efforts to narrow the country’s tariff deficit.
"Boeing will deliver these based on its production capacity, so it will take time—perhaps one to two years," Rahman noted.
On a related note, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the key American agency leading trade negotiations, has scheduled the third and final round of tariff talks with Bangladesh for July 29 and 30, the secretary said.
"We submitted our position paper on the 23rd. The upcoming meeting will take place at the USTR office in Washington, where Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Chief Representative Khalilur Rahman will be present. I will also be attending," said Mahbubur Rahman.
He added, "These matters outlined in our position paper will be discussed in detail during the meetings. Our delegation will leave for the United States on Monday evening."
Currently, the fleet of Biman Bangladesh Airlines includes four Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 162 seats, four Boeing 777-300ERs with 419 seats, four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, and two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
