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4. Scope and
General Provisions :
4.1. This
policy shall apply to the customs areas (excluding Export
Processing Zones) of Bangladesh.
4.2. This
policy shall take effect from 01.07.1998 and remain in force
till 30.06.2002. However, the policy shall be considered valid
until the next Export Policy is
announced.
4.3. If any provision of this
policy is found inconsistent with any provisions of the
Imports and Exports ( Control ) Act, 1950, or of the Import
Policy Order, the Ministry of Commerce shall be entitled to
amend, alter or modify such provision.
4.4.
The Ministry of Commerce may, as and when necessary,
amend, alter or modify any provision of the Export Policy
including the export negative/restricted
items.
4.5. Different aspects of the
Export Policy shall be reviewed annually.
5.
Target:
For the policy period
Export targets have been set at US dollar 5020 million for the
fiscal year (F.Y.) 1997-98, US dollar 5,630 million for the
F.Y.1998-99, US dollar 6,340 million for the F.Y. 1999-2000,
US dollar 7,175 million for the F.Y. 2000-2001 and US dollar
8,100 million for the F.Y. 2001-2002. Details of the export
targets have been shown at annexure 'A'.
6. Export
Promotion Councils/Committees:
6.1. A
National committee on export has been formed. The highest
level committee on export promotion, is headed by the
Honorable Prime Minister and consists of the Honorable
Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Finance, Commerce and
Industries, Planning, Jute and Textile as well as senior
government officials and representatives of important trade
associations. The committee reviews the export situation,
provides necessary directions and readily resolves
problems.
6.2. For immediate attention and
action on export related problem a task force has been formed
under the chairmanship of the Honorable Minister for
Commerce.
6.3. With a view to exchanging
ideas with Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Exporters'
Associations and private sector organizations in formulating
export policy and strategies, and up lamenting policy
decisions an export council has been
formed.
6.4. A task force shall also be
formed to recommend practical measures for export increase and
monitoring the implementation of incentives and facilities of
thrust sector and crash programme
items.
6.5. Commodity
Councils:
Commodity Councils shall be formed for jute, tea,
shrimp, readymade garments and leather & leather
products.
7. Thrust
Sector:
7.1.
Leather and leather goods industries, high and high value
added readymade garments, computer software and
agro-processing sectors have been identified as thrust'
sectors in this export policy. Although the leather and
leather goods sector has enormous export potential the sector
has not been able, till date, to achieve desired results. On
the other hand, the readymade garments sector is expected to
stage a breakthrough in the export of high-priced, high value
added garments of newer categories after having survived
successfully the initial phase of exporting low-end garments.
Like wise computer software and agro-processing sectors could
not record the desired level of export through the sectors
offer bright prospects for earning foreign exchange. These
-four sectors have been declared, 'Thrust Sectors', in this
policy to ensure priority with the following lines of actions
:
7.2. Leather
& Leather Goods :
7.2.1.
Leather manufacturing units shall be modernized in order to
enable them to produce increased quality of finished leather
out of raw hides.
7.2.2. With a view to
reducing cost of production, steps shall be taken to establish
accessories industries for producing necessary chemicals and
other inputs within the country.
7.2.3.
The existing Leather Technology Institute shall be modernized
for use as a 'Common Facilities Centre' for the upcountry
leather units.
7.2.4. Necessary credit
facilities shall be extended for setting up of leather goods
industries and efforts for marketing the produces shall be
strengthened.
7.2.5. Cluster industries
comprising small units of leather goods factories shall be set
up with a view to generating
employment.
7.2.6.’Leather Council' shall
be formed.
7.2.7. Industrial units having
no bonded warehouse at the same time not interested to avail
of duty draw back facilities shall be entitled to cash benefit
in lieu of duty drawback.
7.2.8. Import of
raw hides including wet blue and pickled leather, shall
continue with the prevailing customs duty (2.5%) and import
license fee (2.5%) livable on the importation of raw leather
for three years.
7.2.9. Uniform policy on
bank loan as regards criteria and rate of interest shall be
followed for credit to leather
sector.
7.2.10. The total credit excluded
to the leather sector shall be brought under a single bank and
export will also be affected through that designated
bank.
7.2.11. After careful revision of
the overall situation prevailing in the leather industries,
the time limit for export of crust leather has been extended
upto the year 2000. Facilities for BMRE and other
transformation process shall be made available to all tanning
units to enable them to switcher by 2000, to processing
crust/finished leather from wet blue leather.
7.3.
Readymade Garments:
7.3.1. All
out efforts would be made and steps taken for production and
export of high priced readymade garments in the light of the
prevailing market demand.
7.3.2. Immediate
steps shall be taken to establish a Fashion Institute pending
establishment of the Fashion Institute measures will be taken,
under special arrangements, to extend expert services to match
the actual demand.
7.3.3. Liberal credit
may be considered for capacity building and hiring technology
for producer of high quality garments.
7.4.
Computer Software:
7.4.1. For
the development of human resources in the software information
of computer science, courses in all universities including
B.I.T. and Polytechnic Institute and selected colleges shall
be considered similarly for having a pool of skilled and
trained instructors basic computer scheme at graduation level
may be introduced.
7.4.2. An Information
Technology Village making multifaceted facilities shall be
established as part of infrastructure development for
promotion of export in this sector.
7.4.3.
As a fillip to effective software marketing appropriate
provisions on protection of intellectual imports shall be
incorporated in the existing copyright Act.
7.5. Aero
Processing:
7.5.1. For the
development of the agro-processing industries 'Hortex
Foundation' has already been established. Development
activities of this sector under the Foundations programmes
will go on.
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