The government has finally set the export target at US$33.5 billion for the on-going financial year (FY) 2015-16 taking 14 issues into consideration while setting the lower export growth target of 7.38 per cent in many years.Depreciation of euro and rouble against US dollar, appreciation of Taka against US dollar, falling commodity prices in global market, slow recovery in recession-hit European economies, prolonged debt crisis in Greece and relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar were among the issues that were taken into consideration while setting the target.Besides, duty-free access of goods provided by Chile and Thailand to least developed countries, including Bangladesh, and endeavours to explore new markets in Latin America were also in consideration before fixing the target.Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at a press briefing disclosed the target in the conference room of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) in the city Sunday.Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, vice-chairman of EPB, Shubhashish Bose, President of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), Jashim Uddin, vice-president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Mahbubur Rahman were present, among others, at the press briefing.Representatives from other leading trade associations, including Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) were also present at the briefing.The commerce minister at the press briefing said the country has achieved a significant growth of export in terms of volume in the last fiscal though the achievement in value is very marginal.”Slow recovery of global financial recession, especially in Euro zone and euro and rouble against US dollar, appreciation of taka against US dollar has brought down our achievement,” he added.According to the minister, the country has achieved more than 57 per cent growth in volume of export in the last financial year while the growth in value was only 3.35 per cent.”It is only because of falling commodity prices across the globe,” he added.”Our plan for product diversification, re-location of garments to a garment palli at Bausia of Munshiganj and duty- free access of goods to some Latin American countries would help us achieve the target of $50 billion of export in 50 years of Independence,” Shubhashish Bose said.However, stake holders have urged the government to make gas and other energy available for industrial growth in the country.”If the government can ensure un-interrupted supply of gas and energy, then it is possible to earn more than $50 billion in 50 years of Independence,” Jashim Uddin said.”If we get assurance of getting gas and electricity connections, then more than Tk 5.0 billion would be invested in the plastic industry in the current fiscal,” he added.According to him, plastic industry has achieved the highest export growth in the last financial year (FY).Vice-president of FBCCI, Mahbubur Rahman, however urged the government to bring dynamism in the activities of the commercial councillors of Bangladesh Missions abroad to help achieve the target.”Although the commercial councillors do not directly export, they have a significant role to help boost the export,” he added.”In many cases whenever we go abroad for exploring markets or attending international trade fairs, we face various difficulties only because of negligence of the commercial councillors. If they perform their duties accordingly then finding out markets and product diversification would be easier to us,” he informed.
