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$44b export target set for FY '18

FE Report | August 09, 2018 00:00:00


The government has set its export target at $44 billion, including $5.0 billion from service sector, for fiscal year (FY) 2018-19.

The projection is 7.31 per cent up from the last fiscal year's target.

Nine new exportables have been included in the list of cash incentive/subsidy facilities for FY '19.

Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed declared the target at a meeting at his secretariat office on Wednesday.

"We've fixed an export target for FY '19. Hefty export earnings were made except leather sector in the just-concluded fiscal year," he said.

Commerce secretary Shubhashish Bose, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) vice-chairman Bijoy Bhattacharjee, and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin attended the meeting.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Siddiqur Rahman and senior officials of the ministry were also present.

Mr Tofail said, "The government has set export targets for goods and services at $39 billion and $5.0 billion respectively for FY '19."

"The target was $41 billion for FY '18," he added.

Export growth will be 10 per cent from the ready-made garment (RMG) sector this FY, he mentioned.

According to the EPB data, the total export earnings rose by 5.81 per cent to $36.66 billion in FY '18.

It earned $34.65 billion from exports in FY '17.

A source said the export target has been set with a special focus on the RMG sector.

The government hopes to earn a higher growth target for non-traditional sectors.

Of the target, $32.69 billion or 83.49 per cent is expected to be earned from the RMG sector in FY '19.

According to the EPB, export earnings from the RMG sector stood at $30.61 billion last FY, posting 8.76 per cent growth.

The EPB earlier sent to the ministry a draft export target of $45 billion (goods and service) for FY '19.

Ceramic, pharmaceutical, razor and razor blades, cap, chlorine, hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, hydrogen peroxide and motorcycle will enjoy cash incentive/subsidy this FY.

A total of 36 export sector will enjoy the facilities for the same period, Mr Tofail told the meeting.

Of the items, ceramic and pharmaceutical items will get 10 per cent cash incentive, he said.

Jute yarn will get 7.0 per cent cash incentive instead of previous 5.0 per cent, he added.

According to the Bangladesh Bank, some 27 export-oriented sectors enjoyed export subsidy or cash incentive last FY.

Mr Tofail said new products and new market expansion except the United States, Canada and the European Union will get 4.0 per cent cash incentive this FY.

Earlier, it was 3.0 per cent, he added.

Replying to a query, he said there is no challenge to achieve the export target. "We've overcome many challenges successfully in the past."

FBCCI chief Mohiuddin said the government is trying to facilitate traders and businessmen.

Export earnings mainly depend on the RMG sector. The Middle-Eastern countries still remain untapped for export earnings, he added.

Mr Mohiuddin suggested the government fix targets for its commercial counsellors abroad to boost earnings.

"We're trying to tap the Russian market. Now, we have to give more than 40 per cent duty for exporting products to Russia," BGMEA chief Rahman said.

"Export growth will be better if we can enter new export markets," he told the meeting.

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