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Govt admits rejection of TU reg application high

The government has finalised its response to the complaints made by worker delegates of some countries against Bangladesh about non-observance of International Labour Organisation conventions, acknowledging that the rate of rejection of applications for trade union registration is still high. The response to the complaints about violating ILO conventions related to freedom of association, right to organise and to bargain collectively and labour inspection would be sent to the ILO by January 30. ‘We acknowledge that the rejection rate is still high, which can be reduced through training of DOL [Department of Labour] officials concerned and the workers. With support from the ILO we are continuing our efforts in this regard,’ the response read. It also said that after adoption of standard operation procedure from May 22, 2017, the rate of rejection reduced to 26.77 per cent and there were no cases of arbitrary refusal. At the concluding session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva of Switzerland in June last year, the worker delegates of Italy, Pakistan, South Africa, Brazil and Japan complained that Bangladesh was not following ILO convention 87 on freedom of association and right to organise, convention 98 on right to organise and bargain collectively and convention 81 on labour inspection. They also placed a proposal before the ILO meeting to form a commission of inquiry against Bangladesh to probe the non-observance of the ILO conventions by the country. The government response to the complaints were finalised following a number of meetings between labour ministry, law ministry and other stakeholders to avoid formation of a commission of inquiry against the country. In the response, the government said that Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 was amended in 2013 and 2018 through which trade union registration process was made simplified. It also said that the minimum membership requirement to form trade union was reduced from 30 per cent to 20 per cent. ‘We have finalised our response to the complaints and it would be sent to the ILO by January 30. We have included our progresses regarding labour rights issue including trade union registration, workplace safety and worker wellbeing ,’ labour secretary KM Ali Azam told New Age on Tuesday. The ILO delegates complained that the freedom of association had been violated in Bangladesh and the government explained its initiatives which were taken to address their concerns. ‘We said that the rejection rate of union registration applications had been going down gradually and, if necessary, we will amend the labour act again,’ the labour secretary said. Regarding the cases filed against workers for staging demonstration protesting against inconsistencies in the wage structure, the government, in its response, said that 10 of the cases had already been withdrawn and all of the arrested workers were released on bail. It said that some 4,489 workers were terminated from 41 factories during the wage movement in December, 2018 and January, 2019 and the terminated workers received all benefits according to the existing rules. Regarding the trade union rights for the workers in export processing zones, it said that the EPZ workers had the rights of forming Workers Welfare Association and the rights of collective bargaining in line with the ILO conventions 87 and 98. It said the EPZ workers were more protected and facilitated as well as getting more benefits under the existing EPZ laws, rules and regulations and provisions. Regarding labour inspection, the government response mentioned that the provision of inspections by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) under Bangladesh Labour Act was incorporated in the Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act, 2019.

Sri Lanka earns record $5.3b from apparel exports in 2019

Sri Lanka earned a record 5.3 billion US dollars from its apparel exports in 2019, showing a 5.1 per cent year on year increase, according to the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). However, a slight decline in export earnings was recorded in December 2019 due to a slowdown in the key EU and US markets while retail sales in Sri Lanka’s largest apparel export market, the United Kingdom, remained sluggish because of Brexit, the report seen on Wednesday said. Despite the decline in these markets, exports to other markets recorded an impressive growth leading to record export earnings, reports Xinhua citing JAAF data. Exports to EU grew by over 5.0 per cent year on year to reach $2.2 billion while exports to the US recorded a growth of 3.3 per cent year on year to $2.3 billion in 2019. Exports to other markets such as Canada, The United Arab Emirates, Australia and Japan also grew at a comparatively faster pace. Local media reports, quoting experts in the apparel industry said that Sri Lanka’s apparel sector has been trying to diversify its export base in BRICS countries (comprising of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) particularly in India and China as growth in the traditional markets has slowed down. Industry leaders said that the proposed Free Trade Agreement with China and the Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement with India are crucial to break into the Chinese and Indian markets. The apparel and textile industry contributes six percent to Sri Lanka’s GDP while accounting for 40 per cent of the country’s total exports.

Govt waives stamp duty on export bill of exchange

The finance ministry has waived exporters from payment of stamp duty at the rate of 0.2 per cent on deferred payment, a major boost for the exporters in the context of the country’s export earnings fall in the first half of the fiscal year 2019-2020 amid global economic slowdown. The central bank on Monday issued a circular in this regard, asking all banks to follow a finance ministry clarification on stamp duty. The finance ministry clarification mentioned that the stamp duty on the deferred export bill of exchange would not be applicable to exports. Mentioning the law ministry clarification in this regard, the finance ministry said that the stamp duty would not be applicable to the exporters as such duty was applicable to the issuer of bill of exchange. The bill of exchange is issued in favour of exporters for the export payments and that is why such duty will not be applicable to them, the law ministry clarification said. The finance ministry, upon clarification from the law ministry, gave the waiver on December 8, 2019 amid demand for the stamp-duty withdrawal from the exporters especially by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association in October last year. Apart from the exporters, the bankers also placed the demand to the Bangladesh Bank at a meeting held in November, 2019. The Finance Bill-2012 in line with the Stamp Act, 1899 instructed to attach stamp at the rate of 0.2 per cent on the ‘Bill of Exchange’ value, said bankers at the meeting. However, it does not specify that such stamp duty would be applicable to the bill of exchange issued against export. Despite the fact, the banks were imposing stamp duty at the rate of 0.2 per cent against bill of exchange issued against export following instruction from the BB. Due to lack of clarity in this regard, the exporters have raised objection to paying such duty. In case of deferred bill of exchange worth Tk 100 crore, exporters were supposed to clear Tk 20 lakh as stamp duty as per the finance bill-2012. Exporters said that the waiver would give them a great relief in the context of export fall in recent months. It would also help them being more competitive in the global market, they said. ‘Based on a law way back in 1899, the stamp duty is imposed on import in the subcontinent but never on export,’ BGMEA president Rubana Huq told New Age on Monday. ‘We thought that it was reasonable to seek for an exemption and we did,’ she said, adding, ‘We explained in a proper manner and we got it.’ In the first half (July-December) of the current financial year 2019-20, the country’s export earnings fell by 5.84 per cent to $19.30 billion from $20.50 billion in the same period of FY19.

Leather sector exports drop 10pc

The exports of leather and leather products fell significantly in the first six months (July–December) of the current financial year (FY2019–20) compared to the same period of the last fiscal year. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the sector registered a slightly negative growth rate of 10.61 per cent that resulted in earnings of USD 475.83 million. However, this figure was USD 532.3 million during the same period of the 2018–19 (July–December) FY. Leather export alone registered a negative growth rate of 27.34 per cent, resulting in earnings of USD 65.80 million. This figure was USD 90.56 million during the same period in the 2018–19 FY, according to EPB data. Market insiders say most of the tanneries that have been shifted to the Savar Tannery Complex from Hazaribagh are not fully functional yet and that is one of the prime reasons behind the negative growth. Bangladesh Tanners’ Association (BTA) chairman Shaheen Ahamed told The Independent that Bangladesh generally exports leather products to countries such as South Korea, China, and the European Union, among others. But they have started using artificial leather products, which are more affordable, leading to the import fewer products from Bangladesh. “Import duties on chemicals used for protecting raw hide have increased, affecting the export of crust leather,” he said. Ahmed also says at least 155 factories have been shifted to Savar. Of these, about 125 factories are running and some 30 to 40 tanneries have become fully operational but are only processing only crust leather. When asked about the reason, Sheheen Ahmed, who is also managing director of Kohinoor Tanneries Ltd, said: “Around 25,000 people used to work in the tanneries in Hazaribagh before we shifted all the factories to Savar. As a result, many people have lost their jobs. This has hit the export of leather goods.” Explaining the opportunities before this sector, Sheheen Ahmed said that owing to the availability of raw materials, more than 350 million sq ft of leather is produced annually in Bangladesh. Of this amount, 20–25 per cent goes to meet domestic demand, while the rest is exported. There is a huge domestic demand for leather goods in Bangladesh, he noted. About future prospects, Sheheen Ahmed said: “Now, the industry is coming out of the shadows and has become an important contributor to the country’s export products.” Saiful Islam, president of the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers’ & Exporters’ of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), told The Independent that this sector was not getting the advantage of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and was struggling hard to achieve global standards in terms of compliance.  “For lack of proper compliance, especially in environmental issues, Bangladeshi manufacturers are not getting the certificate from the Leather Working Group (LWG), which assesses environmental compliance and performance capabilities of leather manufacturers. AS a result, export earnings of the sector saw downtrend,” he said. He said we’re highlighting the benefits of investment in this sector as well as the growth prospects in the longer term. Bangladesh has the most liberalised foreign investment climate. There seems a general desire that the country’s leather sector should grow at an exponential rate,” he added. Bangladesh has already established itself as the second largest readymade garments (RMG) manufacturer; it is one of the fastest growing centres for leather and leather product sourcing. About investment prospects, Saiful Islam said China was a big concern for most of the global brands and sourcing diversification was necessary. Given these factors, if investors decide to move to a cost-competitive manufacturing base, Bangladesh would be the most lucrative option, he said. He also said the leather sector was the country’s second largest export earner, employing about four lakh people directly and indirectly.

Cotton import from US: Revoking the provision of double fumigation

When Bangladesh is seeking duty-free access of exportables to the American market, the US authorities have complained about duplication of fumigation test of cotton imported by Bangladeshi traders that created certain barrier to exports. The United States is one of major sources of cotton imported by Bangladesh and the second largest market for Bangladesh readymade garment products. Bangladeshi cotton importers say the time-consuming process of testing cotton at the port of entry affects the country’s business competitiveness. Such fumigation test is required as per rules of the erstwhile Pakistan period that have been incorporated into recently framed rules of Bangladesh. Any cotton imported into Bangladesh must carry sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) certificate from competent authorities of the exporting country, according to Plant Quarantine Rules, 2018. It further says, cotton imported from American region requires additional fumigation at port of entry after arrival. Fumigation is a method of killing pests, termites or any other harmful living organisms to prevent transfer of exotic organisms. It is mostly done on completion of stuffing of cargo and closing the door of container. Pre-shipment fumigation is asked for in most of the cases wherein wood materials are used for packing export goods. Regulations of some countries insist on fumigation of cargo by the supplier and producing fumigation certificate along with other export documents. For imports of cotton, fumigation means the process of eliminating specific cotton germ named “boll weevil” using chemicals. While Bangladesh applies the rules of fumigation of cotton at port of delivery for imports from the USA since the Pakistan days, cotton from other countries could be released from port fulfilling the requirements of certification procedures. Cotton imported from different countries is unloaded in Singapore or Colombo from mother vessels and re-loaded in the feeder vessels in both ports as no mother vessel could come into the Chittagong port. If American cotton is there in the consignments from other countries, the whole consignment needs to be fumigated. India and Vietnam import most of their cotton from the United States. However, no such fumigation is required. In 1966, the then Pakistan government had prepared the ‘Destructive insects and plants’ rules that asked for quarantine certificate from Quarantine Department before release of US-origin cotton. This measure was taken to protect cotton produced in West Pakistan from competing with the US cotton. Bangladesh has revised the law and enacted new Plant Quarantine Act in 2011 and framed Plant Quarantine Rules in 2018. However, the rules for the US-origin cotton remain unchanged. As the test is carried out before delivery from the ship at Bangladesh port, cotton importers claimed that so far not a single case of insects arriving with imported US cotton was detected. A report of US Trade Representative (USTR) office observed that “U.S. cotton exporters and Bangladeshi cotton importers assert that this requirement is unnecessary because of mitigation measures taken prior to export to eliminate any presence of the pest in larval or adult form. These measures include ginning, cleaning, and bale compression. This fumigation is also unnecessary because the United States has eradicated boll weevil from all cotton-producing areas of the United States, with the exception of a small region in southern Texas”. Therefore, the USTR considers fumigation at Chittagong port as a non-tariff barrier (NTB). Technical experts from the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) accompanied by their Bangladeshi counterparts, reportedly visited the Chittagong port in September 2018 to inspect imported US cotton and demonstrated that there was no presence of boll weevil. Also the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) says this is a duplication of test at Bangladesh port since the US cotton is fumigated before shipment and there is no report about rejection of the US cotton consignment till date. This requirement, according to importers, adds 3-4 cents in cost per bale, and delays access to importers for a period of no less than five days. This process also hinders increased demand for US cotton. The US is pursuing Bangladesh to withdraw this restriction. At the 4th council medium-term meeting (2019) of Bangladesh-US Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA), the US side requested Bangladesh to withdraw this mandatory fumigation at Bangladeshi ports. BTMA data show, Bangladesh in 2018 imported 8.2 million bales of cotton, of which some 37.06 per cent cotton was imported from Africa, 26.12 per cent from India, 11.35 per cent from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, 11.14 per cent from the US, 4.65 per cent from Australia, and the rest, 9.65 per cent, from other countries. The US was conveyed that Bangladesh might accept a single fumigation check instead of current double check on import of cotton from the USA subject to application of micro-organism eradicated seal on its containerised shipments. However, Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC), in a study, has recommended that the government should not stop applying fumigation rules at the port of entry while importing US cotton. “It is nearly impossible to withdraw this requirement if there is no declaration from the appropriate authority of the United States certifying that boll weevil has been eradicated from the territories of the United States along with fumigation report from the appropriate authority of the United States,” the study said. Bangladesh’s Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) also wants continuation of fumigation rules for cotton imports from the US. Many countries impose fumigation requirement of cotton. But, almost all of them ask for such fumigation at port of shipment. So far only Bangladesh and Pakistan have imposed such condition for the USA-origin cotton at the port of destination. Since fumigation takes at least five days to complete the entire process, the fumigation procedure entails not only extra charges on the importer but also forces to pay demurrage for delay in release of the consignment which enhances lead time and local production cost eventually affecting the country’s exports. Bangladeshi cotton importers and spinners have urged the authorities to end this age-old provision of performing double fumigation to save time and money. Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has favoured relaxing the provision for fumigation test of cotton imported from US. Bangladesh is heavily dependent on India for its cotton supply but delivery from India remains volatile despite shorter lead time. India also imports cotton from the USA. Bangladesh needs to diversify its import sources since New Delhi often imposes export restrictions on cotton. Bangladesh should avoid double fumigation of the US cotton in order to reduce dependence mostly on one source and cost of imported cotton as Bangladesh is losing competitiveness of garments in the world market. Such process also weakens Bangladesh’s cause when the country is pursuing duty-free exports to the US market.

Accord-victim RMG factory now battles local foe

Liberty Fashion Wears Limited, a closed apparel manufacturing company, on Sunday alleged that its tenant company Sinha Knit and Denim Ltd is trying to capture its property forcefully. The Sinha Knit has also stopped paying the rentals since April 2018, Liberty chairman Mozammel Haq also raised the allegation at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city. He said the management of the tenant company is not even allowing him and other staff of the Liberty fashion to enter into the factory premises at Jirani in Savar. In October 2016, Liberty leased parts of its factory at a rental of Tk 0.695 million per month under an agreement with the Sinha Knit. Mr. Mozammel claimed that his company was a regular supplier of denim (jeans) to UK-based Tesco, Primark and others, and the monthly export volume was 0.3 to 0.35 million units in 2013. The company exported denim products worth US$ 3.5 billion annually. After the Rana Plaza Tragedy, he said Tesco and other buyers had stopped importing products from the Liberty based on report by the Accord, a platform of the European buyers. In June 2013, the accord forced them to shut the factory without any rational reason and proper inspection, he alleged. He said the Accord sent a notice to its signatory brands not to source goods from Liberty based on a baseless inspection by Pakistan-based Medway Consultancy Services (MCS), which prepared a report seven years ago without inspecting the factory and insisted that the factory would collapse in next 60 hours. “But the factory is still in production without any kind of accidents,” he added. The state-of-the-art factory having a floor space of 0.35 million square feet has been forced to shut down, making around 5,000 workers jobless, said the company chairman. Following the closure, he said, the company got permission through an arbitration at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and leased parts of the factory to Sinha Knit in an effort to make up some of the losses. “But, unfortunately, the Sinha Knit has been depriving Liberty of its lawful claim of rental,” said Mr. Mozammel. “And, the most shocking fact is that our tenant, Sinha Knit is not allowing us to enter into the factory premises. Rather, they are selling out our machinery illegally.” He said the BGMEA has also asked the Sinha Knit to allow the owners of Liberty to enter the factory, but they were not following the BGMEA instruction.  He said that his company has recently won a case in Hague, Netherlands where the previous buyers have agreed to place orders again with Liberty for denim products. “We want to use parts of my factory (which remain out of the lease agreement) to start operation again, but the Sinha Knit authority is not allowing us to enter the factory,” he said. “We think, they intend to capture all of the properties of Liberty Fashion forcefully.” Other officials of the Liberty Fashion said their total outstanding with different banks including Eastern Bank Ltd, Shahjalal Islami Bank and Social Islami Bank Ltd would be about Tk 2.35 billion. If Liberty cannot start operation, it would not be able to repay the loans, they added.

৩০ বছরে অবিশ্বাস্য উত্থান ভিয়েতনামের

ভিয়েতনামের রাজধানী হ্যানয়ের রাস্তা ধরে যেতে থাকলে অবাক হতে হয়। কী বিপুল প্রাণশক্তি নিয়ে চলছে সবকিছু। চারদিকে ব্যস্ততা। অসংখ্য দোকান, সেখানে চলছে ক্রেতা–বিক্রেতার দর-কষাকষি, রমরমা বিকিকিনি। বর্তমান এই ভিয়েতনামকে দেখে ৩০ বছর আগের দেশটিকে চেনা দায়। বিশ্বের অন্যতম দরিদ্র এই দেশটি কীভাবে গত ৩০ বছরে নিজেদের মধ্যম আয়ের দেশে পরিণত করেছে, তা যেন এক গল্প।

১৯৫৯ থেকে ১৯৭৫ সাল পর্যন্ত দক্ষিণ-পূর্ব এশিয়ায় সংঘটিত একটি দীর্ঘমেয়াদি সামরিক সংঘাতের নাম ভিয়েতনাম যুদ্ধ। এটি দ্বিতীয় ইন্দোচীন যুদ্ধ নামেও পরিচিত। প্রায় ২০ বছর ধরে চলা এই যুদ্ধের প্রভাবে ভিয়েতনামের অর্থনীতি ব্যাপকভাবে ভেঙে পড়ে। বিশ্বের অন্যতম দরিদ্র অর্থনীতির দেশ হয়ে পড়ে ভিয়েতনাম। অর্থনৈতিক প্রবৃদ্ধির হাল ছিল করুণ। ১৯৭৬ সালে দুই ভিয়েতনাম একত্র হওয়ার পর উত্তর ভিয়েতনাম ধীরে ধীরে তার পরিকল্পিত অর্থনৈতিক ব্যবস্থা গোটা ভিয়েতনামের ওপর প্রয়োগ করে। বিশ্বব্যাংকের তথ্য অনুযায়ী, ১৯৮৫ সালে দেশটির মাথাপিছু আয়ের পরিমাণ ছিল ২৩১ ডলার। ২০১৮ সালে এসে যা দাঁড়িয়েছে ২ হাজার ৫৬৬ ডলারে। ১৯৮৪ সালে দেশটির জিডিপির আকার ছিল মাত্র ১৮ দশমিক ১ বিলিয়ন ডলারের। তবে ১৯৮৬ সালে এসে পাল্টাতে শুরু করে পরিস্থিতি। সে বছর সরকার (কমিউনিস্ট পার্টি অব ভিয়েতনাম) অর্থনৈতিক ও রাজনৈতিক সংস্কার প্রকল্প হাতে নেয়। ‘আইএমআই’ সংস্কার প্রকল্প প্রবর্তনের মাধ্যমে ভিয়েতনামকে ‘সমাজতান্ত্রিক বাজার অর্থনীতি’ হিসেবে পরিচালিত করে সরকার। এখন সেই ভিয়েতনাম বিশ্বের অন্যতম উদীয়মান অর্থনীতির দেশগুলোর একটি। দেশটির অর্থনৈতিক প্রবৃদ্ধির হার ৬ থেকে ৭ শতাংশ। বর্তমানে চীনের সঙ্গে প্রবৃদ্ধিতে টেক্কা দিচ্ছে তারা। দেশটির রপ্তানির পরিমাণই এখন তার মোট জিডিপির সমান। নাইকি ব্র্যান্ডের জুতা থেকে শুরু করে স্যামসাংয়ের স্মার্টফোন—সবকিছুর উৎপাদন কারখানা আছে এই আশিয়ানভুক্ত দেশটিতে।

কীভাবে অবিশ্বাস্য উন্নয়ন হলো ভিয়েতনামে?

বিশ্বব্যাংক ও ওয়াশিংটনভিত্তিক গবেষণা সংস্থা ব্রুকিংসের মতে, ভিয়েতনামের উন্নয়নযাত্রায় তিনটি বিষয়ের অবদান রয়েছে। ধাপে ধাপে এগিয়েছে ভিয়েতনাম। প্রথমত, দেশটি নিজেদের আগ্রহের সঙ্গে মিল রেখে বাণিজ্য উদারীকরণ করেছে। দ্বিতীয়ত, নিয়ন্ত্রণ না করে এবং ব্যবসা শুরুর ব্যয় কমিয়ে অভ্যন্তরীণ সংস্কারের সঙ্গে ও বাহ্যিক উদারীকরণকে পরিপূরক করেছে দেশটি। সর্বশেষ, ভিয়েতনাম নিজেদের মানুষের জন্য ব্যাপক বিনিয়োগ করেছে। গড়ে তুলেছে মজবুত ভিত্তির অবকাঠামো।

আসলেই গত ২০ বছরে অসংখ্য মুক্তবাণিজ্য চুক্তি করেছে ভিয়েতনাম। ১৯৯৫ সালে আসিয়ানভুক্ত হয় ভিয়েতনাম (দক্ষিণ-পূর্ব এশিয়ার ১০টি দেশের আঞ্চলিক জোট আসিয়ান)। ২০০০ সালে এসে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের সঙ্গে মুক্তবাণিজ্য চুক্তি করে তারা। ২০০৭ সালে বিশ্ব বাণিজ্য সংস্থায় (ডব্লিউটিও) যোগ দেয় ভিয়েতনাম। চীন, ভারত, জাপান ও কোরিয়ার সঙ্গে ভালো সম্পর্ক রয়েছে দেশটির। এসব চুক্তির প্রভাবে আমদানি ও রপ্তানি দুই ক্ষেত্রেই ধীরে ধীরে কিছুটা শুল্কছাড় সুবিধা পেতে শুরু করে ভিয়েতনাম। মুক্ত অর্থনীতি তৈরির সঙ্গে সঙ্গে অভ্যন্তরীণ সংস্কারও চালিয়ে যায় ভিয়েতনাম সরকার। ১৯৮৬ সালে বিদেশি বিনিয়োগ–সম্পর্কিত প্রথম আইন তৈরি করে দেশটি, ফলে বিদেশি সংস্থাগুলো ভিয়েতনামে প্রবেশের সুযোগ পায়। ২০১৭ সালে ওয়ার্ল্ড ইকোনমিক ফোরামের বৈশ্বিক প্রতিযোগিতা সক্ষমতা প্রতিবেদনে ভিয়েতনামের অবস্থান উঠে আসে ৫৫–তে। ২০০৬ সালে যা ছিল ৭৭-এ। শুধু তা–ই নয়, বিশ্বব্যাংকের ইজ অব ডুয়িং বিজনেস বা সহজে ব্যবসা করার সূচকে ব্যাপক উন্নতি করেছে দেশটি। ২০০৭ সালে এই সূচকে দেশটির অবস্থান ছিল ১০৪-এ। ১০ বছরের মধ্যে (২০১৭) দেশটির উঠে আসে ৬৮-তে।

গত ৩০ বছরে মানবসম্পদ উন্নয়ন ও অবকাঠামোগত উন্নয়নে ব্যাপক বিনিয়োগ করেছে ভিয়েতনাম। দ্রুত বর্ধমান জনসংখ্যার মুখোমুখি হয়ে বর্তমানে ভিয়েতনামের জনসংখ্যা সাড়ে ৯ কোটি। যার অর্ধেকই ৩৫ বছরের কম বয়সী। ১৯৮৬ সালে দেশটির জনসংখ্যা ছিল ৬ কোটি। বলা হয়, যত বেশি জনসংখ্যা, তত বেশি কর্মসংস্থানের চাহিদা। তবে ভিয়েতনাম অবকাঠামো খাতে প্রচুর পরিমাণে বিনিয়োগ করেছে। ফলে জনসংখ্যা কোনো সমস্যা হয়ে দাঁড়ায়নি দেশটির জন্য। জনসাধারণের জন্য ইন্টারনেট সস্তা হয়েছে। চতুর্থ শিল্পবিপ্লব দক্ষিণ-পূর্ব এশিয়ার দেশটির দরজায় কড়া নাড়ছে এবং সেই লক্ষ্যে পৌঁছাতে আইটি অবকাঠামো স্থাপনের জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় প্রস্তুতি নিচ্ছে তারা। প্রয়োজনীয় অবকাঠামো এবং বাজারবান্ধব নীতির কারণে দক্ষিণ-পূর্ব এশিয়ায় বিদেশি বিনিয়োগ এবং উৎপাদনকেন্দ্র হিসেবে পরিণত হয়েছে ভিয়েতনাম। তৈরি পোশাক খাতের পাশাপাশি ইলেকট্রনিকস পণ্য তৈরির বড় বড় কোম্পানিও ভিয়েতনামে কারখানা প্রতিষ্ঠা করেছে।

পোশাক খাতে ভিয়েতনামের উত্থান

ভিয়েতনামের তৈরি পোশাকশিল্পের ইতিহাস আজকের নয়। কয়েক শ বছর আগে থেকেই এ দেশের নারীরা রেশম দিয়ে কাপড় বুনতে জানতেন। চমৎকার সিল্ক কাপড় তৈরি করতেন তাঁরা। আভিজাত্যের ছোঁয়া ছিল সেসব কাপড়ে। ১৯৫৮ সালের দিকে উত্তর ভিয়েতনামে তৈরি পোশাকশিল্পের উত্থান ঘটে। দক্ষিণ ভিয়েতনামে ১৯৭০ সালে এই শিল্প বিকাশ লাভ করে। সে সময় থেকে ফরাসিরা ভিয়েতনামের বড় বড় শহরে কারখানা তৈরি করেন। সেই থেকে এখন পর্যন্ত ভিয়েতনামের অর্থনীতিতে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা রেখে আসছে তৈরি পোশাকশিল্প। বর্তমানে ৬ হাজারের বেশি তৈরি পোশাক কারখানা ও উৎপাদন প্রতিষ্ঠান রয়েছে দেশটিতে।

২০১৮ সালে বৈশ্বিক পোশাকবাজারে ভিয়েতনামের হিস্যা ছিল ৬ দশমিক ২ শতাংশ। বিশ্ব বাণিজ্য সংস্থার ‘ওয়ার্ল্ড ট্রেড স্ট্যাটিস্টিক্যাল রিভিউ-২০১৯’ শীর্ষক প্রতিবেদন অনুযায়ী, গড় হিসাবে এক দশক ধরে রপ্তানি আয়ে দুই অঙ্কের প্রবৃদ্ধি হচ্ছে যেসব দেশের, তার মধ্যে প্রথমে আছে ভিয়েতনাম। এরপরই বাংলাদেশের অবস্থান। ২০১৮ সালে ৩০ দশমিক ৪ বিলিয়ন মার্কিন ডলারের বেশি পোশাক রপ্তানি করেছে তারা, যা ২০১৭ সালের চেয়ে ১৬ দশমিক ৬ শতাংশ বেশি। তৈরি পোশাকে বিশ্বের পাঁচটি বৃহত্তম রপ্তানিকারকের একটি এখন ভিয়েতনাম। দেশটির সরকারি পরিসংখ্যান অনুযায়ী, ভিয়েতনাম এ বছরের প্রথম ১০ মাসে তৈরি পোশাক রপ্তানি করে ২ হাজার ৭৪০ কোটি ডলার আয় করেছে।

গত বছরের প্রথম ৯ মাসে পোশাক রপ্তানিতে বাংলাদেশকে ছাড়িয়ে যায় ভিয়েতনাম। রপ্তানি উন্নয়ন ব্যুরোর (ইপিবি) তথ্যমতে, চলতি বছরের জানুয়ারি থেকে সেপ্টেম্বর পর্যন্ত প্রথম ৯ মাসে বাংলাদেশ থেকে ২ হাজার ৬১০ কোটি মার্কিন ডলারের পোশাক রপ্তানি হয়েছে। অন্যদিকে একই সময়ে ভিয়েতনাম থেকে রপ্তানি হয়েছে ২ হাজার ৯৩০ কোটি ডলারের পোশাক। তার মানে, ৯ মাসে বাংলাদেশের চেয়ে ভিয়েতনাম ৩২০ কোটি ডলারের পোশাক বেশি রপ্তানি করেছে। জাতীয় দৈনিক ভিয়েতনাম নিউজ-এর এক প্রতিবেদনে সম্প্রতি বলা হয়েছে, চলতি বছর কয়েকটি বাজারে জটিলতা থাকার পরও দেশটির পোশাক রপ্তানি ৪ হাজার কোটি ডলারের লক্ষ্যমাত্রায় পৌঁছাবে। রপ্তানির পাশাপাশি ভিয়েতনামের অভ্যন্তরীণ পোশাকের বাজারও ৯০০ কোটি ডলারে দাঁড়াবে।

শুধু তা–ই নয়, যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের বাজারেও ভিয়েতনামের পোশাক রপ্তানি দিন দিন বাড়ছে। ইউএস ডিপার্টমেন্ট অব কমার্সের আওতাধীন অফিস অব টেক্সটাইল অ্যান্ড অ্যাপারেলসের (অটেক্সা) তথ্যমতে, ভিয়েতনাম ২০১৯ সালের জানুয়ারি থেকে নভেম্বর পর্যন্ত ১১ মাসে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে ১ হাজার ৩৩৯ কোটি ডলারের পোশাক রপ্তানি করেছে, যা গত বছরের একই সময়ের চেয়ে প্রায় ১০ শতাংশ বেশি। বাংলাদেশ রপ্তানি করেছে ৫৫১ কোটি ডলারের পোশাক, যা গত বছরের একই সময়ের চেয়ে প্রায় ১০ শতাংশ বেশি। 

তবে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের বাজারে ভিয়েতনামের অন্যতম ঝুঁকি হলো, দেশটির বেশির ভাগ প্রতিষ্ঠানেরই নিজস্ব ব্র্যান্ড মালিকানা নেই। তারা বিদেশি ব্র্যান্ডের আউটসোর্সিং অংশীদার হিসেবে উৎপাদন করে। ভূরাজনৈতিক জটিলতা তৈরি হলে বিষয়টি অর্থনীতির জন্য ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ হয়ে ওঠে। এ ছাড়া ভিয়েতনাম পোশাকশিল্পের প্রয়োজনীয় যন্ত্রপাতি, সরঞ্জাম, কাঁচামালের জন্য আমদানির ওপর অধিক নির্ভরশীল, যা কেবল তার লাভের মার্জিনকেই কমিয়ে দেয় না, বৈদেশিক ব্যয়ও বাড়িয়ে দেয়। অবশ্য কাঁচামালের উচ্চ ব্যয় কাটিয়ে উঠতে সরকার ইতিমধ্যে সমর্থন শিল্পের উন্নয়নে ব্যাপক বিনিয়োগ শুরু করেছে। 

ডিজিটাল উন্নয়ন

দক্ষিণ-পূর্ব এশিয়ার ক্ষুদ্র একটি কৃষিপ্রধান দেশ ছিল ভিয়েতনাম। যার আয়তন প্রায় ১ লাখ ২৭ হাজার বর্গকিলোমিটার। ২০ বছর ধরে চলা যুদ্ধে ক্ষয়ে গিয়েছিল দেশটি। তবে এখন ভিয়েতনাম আর সেই যুদ্ধবিধ্বস্ত দেশ নেই। দেশটির মাথাপিছু আয় এখন প্রায় আড়াই হাজার মার্কিন ডলারের বেশি। জিডিপির প্রবৃদ্ধি এ বছর ৭ শতাংশ ছাড়িয়ে যাবে বলে আশা করছে দেশটির সরকার। ছোট এই দেশটিই এখন প্রযুক্তি খাতে ব্যাপক উন্নতি করেছে। ভিয়েতনামের বেসরকারি এক গবেষণায় দেখা গেছে, বর্তমানে ৬ কোটি ৪০ লাখ মানুষকে ইন্টারনেট সেবার আওতায় আনা গেছে। ২০১৭ সালের চেয়ে যা ২৮ শতাংশ বেশি। দেশটিতে মোবাইল সাবস্ক্রিপশনের সংখ্যা ১৪ কোটি ৩৩ লাখ। অর্থাৎ প্রতি একজনে ১ দশমিক ৫টি মোবাইল ফোন ব্যবহার করেন।

দেশটির বিজ্ঞান ও প্রযুক্তি মন্ত্রণালয়ের তথ্যমতে, ২০১৫ সালে দেশটির ডিজিটাল ইকোনমির বাজার ৩০০ কোটি ডলারের ছিল। ২০১৯ সালে এসে তা ৯০০ কোটি ডলারে উন্নীত হয়েছে। ২০২৫ সাল নাগাদ তা ৩ হাজার বিলিয়ন ডলারে পৌঁছাবে বলে মনে করছে দেশটি। স্যামসাংয়ের মতো বড় বড় প্রযুক্তি নির্মাতা প্রতিষ্ঠান তাদের কারখানা গড়ে তুলেছে ভিয়েতনামে। নিজেদের ডিজিটাল অর্থনীতির দেশ হিসেবে গড়ে তুলতে ব্যাপক অবকাঠামোগত উন্নয়ন করছে তারা।

BGMEA seeks duty-free local procurement by foreign brand outlets, local brands oppose

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has requested the National Board of Revenue to allow garment exporters to sell duty-free a portion of their export products to global brands’ outlets in Bangladesh. Local clothing brands have opposed the BGMEA proposal saying that such a move would hurt their businesses because of uneven competition. BGMEA president Rubana Huq in a letter to the NBR chairman on January 11 said that many renowned global brands expressed interest in establishing outlets in Bangladesh but held back the plans due to ‘lack of timebefitting policy support’ in the country.  ‘The country is losing foreign investment and local consumers are being deprived of the ability to buy global brands’ products at reasonable prices due to lack of time-befitting policy,’ Rubana said in the letter. According to a statutory order issued by the NBR in June 1996, the 100-per cent export-oriented industries are allowed to sell products equal in volume to 20 per cent of their total exports of the previous year to the local market by paying the applicable duty. ‘But many of the foreign brands are keen to procure the 20-per cent  products duty free for their  outlets in Bangladesh,’ Rubana said. She requested the NBR to formulate a policy to facilitate selling of the 20per cent products duty free and to consider the sale as export. Citing duty-free facilities in some South Asian countries, including India, the BGMEA president said that the facility would encourage global brands to set up outlets in Bangladesh that would lead to increased investment and employment. Recently, French sporting goods retailer Decathlon sent a letter to the BGMEA seeking cooperation from the trade body to procure products from exporters duty free, BGMEA officials said. The brand now manufactures products at garment factories in Bangladesh and exports them to its warehouse in India and re-imports them to be sold at its Bangladesh outlet. The brand said that it had to pay 130 per cent  custom duties for importing many of the garments and shoes, even for ones made in Bangladesh, to sell at its outlet. Decathlon, which started its retail operations in Bangladesh in July 2019, said that one of its footwear suppliers and one of the tent suppliers, both located at the export processing zone in Chattogram, had received permission from the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority to sell products amounting to 10 per cent of their previous year’s exports to the local market. If the duty-free facilities were given to the factories to sell the products locally, the prices of Decathlon items would be reduced by around 50 per cent and would be accessible to more Bangladeshi consumers. A number of foreign brands, including Puma, Lotto and Le Cooper, have opened outlets in Bangladesh. Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, chairman of Evince Group, one of the leading garment exporters in the country, however, differed with the BGMEA initiative. Parvez, who has also established the local brand, Noir, said that if the global brands in Bangladesh were given the opportunity to procure garments duty free, it would reduce the competitiveness of the local brands. He said that if the prices of products at the outlets of global brands and local brands were the same, the local companies would be affected badly as they had to pay duty for import of raw materials. Syed Azharul Haque Azad, president of the Fashion Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh, said that the BGMEA proposal would not be encouraging for the local brands. As the local entrepreneurs are not getting bond facility for import of raw materials, they would disappear from the market, he said.

Vietnam’s textile, wood sectors to gain most from CPTPP

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and related tariff commitments have opened up multiple opportunities for Vietnam’s export industries, with a range of key products including furniture, garments and footwear, according to experts, who feel the wood and textile industries will be the two to benefit the most. At a recent seminar on Vietnam’s textile, footwear, furniture and beverage industries under the opportunities and challenges from CPTPP jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, economists projected that CPTPP and its tariff commitments will open up markets of the 11 economies participating in the agreement offering great opportunities for many Vietnamese export items. There will be more growth opportunities from CPTPP for the textile sector. Currently, Vietnam’s leather and footwear exports are the second largest in the world, behind only China. Vietnam’s textile and apparel exports are also ranked third in the world, behind China and approximately equal to India. Before the CPTPP took effect, the CPTPP member countries’ markets accounted for 12.5 per cent of Vietnam’s total footwear exports and 16 per cent of total textile exports. However, experts caution that besides creating opportunities to access new markets, CPTPP with commitments on market opening will also result in considerable competitive pressure for enterprises, even in the domestic market, according to Vietnamese newspaper report. Especially, the detailed and complex conditions of CPTPP’s rules of origin would be another obstacle for businesses, as not all of them could meet to take advantage of tariff preferences, not to mention that the CPTPP also includes other commitments on labour, environment, intellectual property, etc., that could increase the cost for businesses.

Bangladesh needs export diversification: IFC

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group has identified leather and footwear, plastics and light engineering as potential sectors that can help diversify Bangladesh’s export basket. These sectors will also create greater access to global markets for domestic products, according to a new report released by IFC recently. The report, titled ‘Building Competitive Sectors for Export Diversification: Opportunities and Policy Priorities for Bangladesh’, highlighted the need for diversifying Bangladesh’s export basket to sustain accelerated economic growth, increase investment opportunities and create more jobs, particularly for women. To sustain the growth trajectory and reduce over dependence on any single item, IFC country manager Wendy Werner said Bangladesh needs to build a strong manufacturing ecosystem and develop new products, while paving the way for large-scale job creation and poverty reduction. The report identified the lack of environmental and social compliance, poor handling of raw materials, the shortage of skilled workforce, the delay in relocating tanneries, poor access to finance, technological constraints, limited availability of accessories and components, and limited product and markets as the major constraints on the leather sector. It made short-medium-long term recommendations for policymakers on strategy development to integrate priority sectors with the global value chain. The IFC publication compares Bangladesh’s export performance to several comparator countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, China and India, to identify where Bangladesh can improve.

RMG BANGLADESH NEWS