86 cos to be awarded nat'l export trophy

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FE Report
The government is set to award the National Export Trophy (NET) to 86 companies for their outstanding export performance during the period 2002-03 to 2004 -05, sources said.
The NET is being awarded after a gap of two years since it was last given in 2004.
The Commerce Ministry has already sent a nomination list to the top government functionary for approval.
Three export-oriented business houses from each of the 21categories selected will be awarded gold, silver and bronze medals according to their respective performances, a source said.
Out of 86 recipients, he said, a total of 32 companies will receive gold medals for 2002-2003, 2003-04 and 2004-05 fiscal years.
"We are hoping that the summary of the nominees will be sent to the chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed soon after commerce adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam grants his approval," he said.
Sources close to the ministry concerned said a total of 189 companies were initially listed for the NET award but 103 were dropped due to their alleged involvement in loan defaults and tax evasion.
When asked, a senior official of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) said they are ready to float tender for supplying trophies immediately after the chief adviser's office approves the proposed list.
"We will invite fresh applications from the business houses for 2004-05 and 2006-07 fiscal years after the government approves this pending list," an official said.
The government first introduced the NET in 1978 to encourage the private sector companies to contribute in the growth of the economy through export trade.
Bangladesh's export earning stood at $ 12.18 billion in 2006-07, a 15.59 per cent rise over the previous year.