They also demanded special and differential treatment for LDCs exports to rich countries. They called for withdrawing tariff and non-tariff barriers to LDC exports.

The businessmen placed 21 recommendations at a meeting titled 'Business for Cancun' held in Dhaka. The recommendations came to coincide with the LDC ministerial meeting being held in the capital.

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) jointly organised the meeting at Sonargaon Hotel.

Former commerce secretary Sayed Alamgir Farrouk Chowdhury chaired the first session titled 'Market access in industrial products: textile and clothing'. John Clarke, DG (trade), European Commission (EC), presented a paper at the session.

Speakers at the session underscored the need for backward and forward linkage industry to cope with increased completion.

They urged the rich countries to open export market to least developed countries.

The second session was on 'Negotiation in agriculture'. Maj Gen (retd) Amjad Khan Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Agro-Food Processors' Association, chaired the session. P Gallager, consultant of ITC, presented a key paper on the topic.

Speakers at the session said due to high subsidy in agriculture sector by rich countries farm products from poor countries cannot compete in international market.

They urged the LDC leaderships to raise the subsidy issue at WTO summit to be held in September this year.

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman conducted the third session titled 'Road to Cancun and business advocacy'. Silencer Mapuranga, senior business advisory service officer of ITC, presented a paper.

Participants at the session, urged LDC leaderships to improve negotiation capacity at the WTO meetings to preserve trade interest of poor nations.

They said Cancun summit would be crucial for LDCs and they must dispose of the pending issues like drug patent and agro-subsidy.

Non-tariff barriers in all aspects should be withdrawn and the matter should be effectively dealt with at the negotiations in Cancun, they said.

The businessmen said the database of WTO issues and information on the various WTO developments should be included in the technical assistance programme.

DCCI President Matiur Rahman, ITC Consultant X Jiang, Second Secretary of the EC Anne Marchel, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association Chairman MA Awal participated at the meeting.

Rounding up the sessions, on behalf of business community Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Yussuf Abdullah Harun placed 21 recommendations before LDCs for discussion at the WTO round to be held in Mexico in September this year.