Only one-third of the diplomatic missions of the country could help achieve export targets during the July-August period of the current fiscal year, officials said. Most others miserably missed the marks set for them.
Out of 53 diplomatic missions, they said, 17 could get to the strategic targets during the first two months of the fiscal year 2015-16.
The rest 36 failed to help attain the respective targets.
Eighteen of the missions have commercial wings to promote country's external trade. Notwithstanding, 11 of them could not achieve the export targets.
However, export earnings of four of these missions have increased during the period.
Statistics show that during the period, the total 53 missions could help the country in earning some US$5.280 billion through merchandise export.
Among the embassies and high commissions, the Washington mission earned 19.68 per cent, Berlin 15.94 per cent, London 11.50 per cent, Paris 4.71 per cent, Madrid 5.89 per cent, Ottawa 3.66 per cent, Brussels 3.15 per cent, New Delhi 2.0 per cent, Tokyo 3.33 per cent, and Beijing 1.98 per cent.
The government has set a total export target at US$33.5 billion for this fiscal year. For the first two months the strategic export target was US$5.657 billion. But the turnover fell 4.82 per cent short of the target.
A senior official at the ministry of commerce told the FE the government appoints trade officials to diplomatic missions to promote country's business abroad. Some of the officials work very fine to promote business over there.
"We keep the trade officials concerned under constant pressure to work for promoting trade and business abroad," he said.
He said the officials had been asked to attend various business programmes, highlight there about Bangladeshi achievements, and inform the foreign businessmen about Bangladeshi products to attract them towards sourcing from here.
They are also asked to organise and participate in trade shows to showcase Bangladeshi products, alongside the efforts of private-sector businesspeople.
When contacted, former vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shahidullah Azim told the FE that diplomats are hardly keeping any contribution to promoting Bangladesh's export.
"They have enough scope to contribute in promoting Bangladeshi goods abroad, but they are not doing so," he said.
Mr Azim said they can inform the Bangladeshi exporters about export demand and global business trends, and give direction as to how a new industrialist can move forward with his goods for export.
There is a significant market of Bangladeshi products in the Middle-Eastern countries. "We requested the government to hold a trade show there but did not get any response till now. The commercial counsellors can play role in this regard."
The apparel-sector business leader further said many countries, including Brazil, have high import duty on various products. The commercial counsellors can sit with government officials concerned to persuade them into lowering the duties.
   syful-islam@outlook.com
Most missions miss export targets in July-Aug period
Syful Islam | Published: September 30, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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