The government has set an export target of 63.4 billion US dollars for the 2026-27 financial year. Of this, the target for goods exports is 55.2 billion dollars and for services exports 8.2 billion dollars. A target of 15 percent growth has been set in both sectors.
Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced this at a press briefing held in the commerce ministry’s conference room on Sunday. The commerce ministry’s secretary, Md Ataur Rahman Khan, and the vice-chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Mohammad Hasan Arif, were present.
The commerce minister said that despite global economic uncertainty, continuing geopolitical tension and challenges in the international market, a real prospect has emerged for Bangladesh’s export sector to turn around. Steps have been taken to bring fresh momentum to exports by creating a business-friendly environment, easing investment and simplifying the process of government services.
He said negotiations on free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are at a final stage. Alongside this, there is a target of completing FTAs with several more countries within this year. He also expressed the hope that formal talks on a free trade agreement with the European Union would begin shortly.
Stressing export diversification, the minister said about 85 percent of the country’s total exports currently depend on the ready-made garment sector. To reduce this dependence, the government is giving special priority to leather and leather goods, footwear, shipbuilding, ship recycling, light engineering and the information technology sector. Specific action plans will be implemented shortly to develop these sectors.
On the United States’ tariff policy, he said there has been no real change in the effective tariff structure on Bangladesh. The earlier 10 percent tariff remains in place under the new legal framework. There is therefore no fear of any fresh negative impact on the country’s exports.
On the energy crisis, the minister said that because of limits on gas supply, part of the industrial sector’s production capacity still cannot be fully used. The government is working to improve the situation by installing an additional LNG regasification unit (FSRU).
He said the export target set for the coming financial year will be achievable thanks to the policy stability of an elected government, business-friendly reforms, new free trade agreements and growing confidence among buyers in the international market towards Bangladesh.
The commerce minister also said a door of new possibility has now opened before Bangladesh. “Through coordinated initiatives in easing business, entering new markets and diversifying exports, we want to begin a new upward trend in the country’s export sector,” he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report