The New Nation - Internet Edition

A.T.M.Nurun Nabi

The price index of the total export increased by 0.01 percent in July but the index by volume declined by 21.09 percent, according to the report released by Export Promotion Bureau. The price index of the primary products rose by 14.45 percent but the index by volume fell by 5.98 percent while the price index of the manufactured products declined by 1.30 and the index by volume by 21.84 percent.

During the said month, the country exported products of 902.33 million dollar, short of the strategic target of 1341.25 million dollar by 32.72 percent and of the last fiscal year's performance of 1143.36 million dollar by 21.08 percent.

Only five products exceeded both the last fiscal year's corresponding month's performance and the strategic target (figures in million dollars and July 2006-07 performance within bracket):

These are vegetables 10.49 (4.17), cut flower 4.94 (2.44), pharmaceuticals 3.21 (3.01), leather bags & purses 1.29 (1.00) and agricultural process food 5.17 (2.38).

Raw jute 6.49 (5.34), foot wear 10.58 (8.42) and tea 0.73 (0.52) are the three products that exceeded last fiscal year's performance but fell short of strategic target.

Conversely, as many as 19 products fell short of both the strategic target and the previous fiscal year's corresponding month's performance.

Some of them are woven garments 345.20 (451.91), frozen food 45.93 (51.93), home textile 18.68 (19.91), handicrafts 0.35 (0.74), knitwear 346.74 (452.94), leather 20.54 (25.96), jute goods 22.66 (26.96) terry towel 8.40 (8.90) and ceramic products 2.24 (2.68). The strategic target of the fiscal 2007-08 has been set at 14500 million dollar, which is hard to achieve if the political stability is not established in the country, unrest in the RMG arena ends and the Bangladesh Missions abroad become not active.

A year ago it was 12500 million dollar, not achieved for a little.

It gathers from another report that 23 out of 44 Bangladesh Missions failed to achieve export target for the fiscal 2006-07. The missions are Washington, Ottawa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thimpu, New Delhi, Islamabad, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Mascot, Canberra, Cairo, Bangkok, Riad, Kuwait, Manila, Amman, Tashkent, Brunei, Berlin, Tokyo and Katmandu. One of the causes of failures is that the appointment in the Bangladeshi Missions is done on political consideration and personal relationship than on quality. Another reason is the lack of monitoring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce.