The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on Sunday granted Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status to ten business entities, aiming to facilitate trade by streamlining customs procedures.
Similar to the “Green Channel” system at airports, AEO status enables companies to bypass certain customs checks, expediting the clearance of goods at ports. This is expected to reduce production and export lead times while alleviating congestion at ports.
BIDA Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury emphasised that the AEO licence is not intended to impose new restrictions on businesses but rather to promote good practices. “Only companies with a strong track record in consumer rights, tax compliance, and governance will be eligible for this status,” he stated.
The AEO concept is widely implemented in developed countries. Although Bangladesh officially introduced the system in 2013, businesses have only now begun to fully benefit from it.
“BIDA’s role is to enhance the ease of doing business in Bangladesh. The real challenge was implementing ‘ease of doing business’ within the government itself,” Ashiq Chowdhury wrote in a Facebook post.
The ten companies awarded AEO status are Unilever Bangladesh, Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd, GPH Ispat, BSRM, Square Pharmaceuticals PLC, Popular Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Fair Electronics, ACI Godrej Agrovet Pvt Ltd (Feed Division), and TOA Personal Protective Device Bangladesh Ltd.
