Per hour earning from the export of apparel is lowest in Bangladesh in South Asia although the country is the top regional exporter and the world’s second largest exporter of apparel.The country’s per hour earning from apparel export is $0.51 while the amount is $0.55 for Sri Lanka, $0.58 for Pakistan and $1.06 for India, according to a latest report of the World Bank.The amount is significantly high in China which is $2.6.Again, per capita export earning of apparel in Bangladesh is $126 which is well above the regional average worth $70 in South Asia but well below China ($365) and Vietnam ($312).The World Bank’s latest report is titled ‘South Asia’s Turn: Policies to Boost Competitiveness and Create the Next Export Powerhouse’ depicts the scenario.It said that though the region possesses several key advantages in the apparel sector, its share of the global apparel market continues to lag behind China which accounts for 41 per cent of the global market.South Asia’s share of the global apparel market increased to 12.3 per cent in 2012 from 7.5 per cent in 2000.”Despite higher labour costs, China is able to attract buyers by offering a wide range of apparel at short lead times, while high productivity limits total costs despite high wages,” it said.”No country in South Asia has thus far succeeded in offering a comparable package of goods and services,” added the report.
