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CPD-Prothom Alo-The Daily Star dialogue in Chittagong
Export front sees snail's pace

Staff Correspondent, from Chittagong
27 April, 2003

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Little government initiative is visible to implement policies adopted to meet trade challenges in the changed global context although the government is well aware of tasks ahead. There has been no qualitative improvement in expanding the growths of export since the introduction of Policy Brief in 2001.

Some policies were taken as per the recommendations, some were earmarked, but the status of their implementation is not clear while the fruits also remain to be reaped. The speakers made the observations at the first session of the daylong roundtable titled "Regional Consultation Meeting" of National Policy Review Forum 2003 held at Chittagong Stock Exchange yesterday. The Centre for Police Dialogue (CPD), the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star co-organised the meeting.

At the first session of the roundtable on Foreign Trade, the speakers emphasised systemic review of the announced polices and relevant preventive measures for expanding foreign investment and boosting foreign trade. However, they suggested that change and revision that might be required be transparent, assumable, impartial and accountable. Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury attended the session as chief guest with Professor Anwarul Azim Arif, vice-chancellor of Premier University, in the chair. Prothom Alo Editor Motiur Rahman made the address of welcome in the session where the introductory speech was made by CPD Executive Director Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya.

Prof. Ali Rashid of economics department of North South University presented the keynote paper in the session. Motiur Rahman said the regional consultation meeting aims to review the Policy Brief and make some specific recommendation to formulate policies. Dr Debapriya said the Policy Brief introduced earlier helped formulate many policies. However, a review of the policies formed is needed as many of them could not be implemented. Besides, constant hammering is also needed, he added.

The Daily Star News Editor Inam Ahmed, speaking on behalf of the one of the organisers, said in view of globalisation and changing world order review of the polices was crucial. The recommendations and suggestions likely to come out from the consultation meetings would reach the higher level of policy-making bodies to help them take necessary actions, he added. Prof. Rashid in his keynote paper said despite rapid growth in the export sector that meets the major portion of the import expenditure, limited number of export items and limited market have created concerns about the prospect of the sector. As such, export diversification and expansion of market emerged as the main challenge.

The paper identified poor infrastructure and communication system, port problems, lack of efficiency and poor activities and management crisis in the export-oriented firms as the supply-side constraints that hamper export activities. The oven and knitwear sector that earns around three-fourths of the export income mostly depends on the markets of the US and European Union countries, which is a weakness of this sector. A comprehensive measure is yet to be taken to overcome the feared negative impact on export of garments in the USA after the multi-fibre agreement (MFA) and due to US TDA 2002 and NAFTA.

The government is trying to determine proper tactics to face the challenges and the commerce ministry also got a research done in 2002. But coordinated efforts are required to implement the recommendation came out from the research.Taking part in the discussion on the keynote paper, the speakers observed that there were sound policies and urged for political will to implement those. They observed the imported goods included mostly luxury items instead of necessary raw materials.

The market was being captured in the name of open market economy while access to foreign markets were being barred through different tariff and non-tariff barriers.

The lengthy procedures and delay in providing gas and electricity connections hamper installation of industrial units and cause the investors to incur loss, they added. Former Vice-chancellor of Chittagong University Prof. Alamgir Md. Sirajuddin, former president of Bangladesh Economic Council Dr. Moinul Islam, the first secretary of Indian High Commission Swapan Dasgupta, Chittagong chamber Director Ali Ahmed, BGMEA first Vice-president SM Nurul Haq, former honorary consul Nurul Islam, Prof. Fasiul Alam of Chittagong University and Kaniz Fatema also took part in the discussion.