Dhaka, Sept. 18 -- Bangladesh Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman has said a strong political will is the key to transforming South Asia into a major commercial hub.

Speaking at a global and regional trade and investment conference held on Thursday at a city hotel, the commerce secretary said the coming days would present challenges for global trade, making regional unity indispensable.

"Future trade will face more tariff complexities, alongside non-tariff and para-tariff barriers. To tackle these challenges, there is no alternative to bringing heads of state together at a single table," Mahbubur Rahman added.

The event, jointly organised by the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of C...