Jute contributes 4.68pc in export earnings

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/31499-jute-contributes-468pc-in-export-earnings.html
Jute contributes 4.68pc in export earnings
STAFF REPORTER
DHAKA JAN 27: Jute will regain its earlier glory as it is becoming popular globally, the speakers said today at the opening session of International Jute fair.   “Jute sector is contributing 4.68 per cent in export earning last fiscal year and two per cent increase during last two years,” said secretary of Textiles and Jute ministry Ashraful Moqbul, adding  “Though its contribution is not notable at present like the 1960′s but there is no scope to deny its contribution in national economy.”
He was speaking as the chief guest at the opening session of the fair jointly organised by International Jute Study Group (IJSG) and National Jute Board (NJB) of India with collaboration European Union (EU) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).
Among others, executive director of Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) Khandaker Mokhlesur Rahman, secretary of NJB Atri Bhattacharya, first secretary of EU Andrew Barnard and secretary of IJSG Bhupendra Sigh addressed the session.
Jute will be one of the most important cash crop in coming days due to the automobile sector around the world are using jute products, Ashraful said.
He further said, jute is versatile fibre and environment friendly so its use increasing entirely which is good signs for the jute sector of the Bangladesh and India . Both India and Bangladesh will be benefited if joint initiate to promote the diversification of jute, secretary of Textiles and Jute added.
First secretary of EU Andrew Barnard said at least 40 million farmers of   Bangladesh would be benefited directly from this sector and it had a huge prosperity.
Bangladesh is producing quality jute products that can secure market in Europe countries, he said.
He also said that Bangladesh earned US $ 140 million from raw jute export and $ 47 million from jute products.
The fair will open form 9 am to 9 pm started from today (January 27) and continue till January 29.

Bangladesh missions achieve export target

http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/30206-bangladesh-missions-achieve-export-target.html
Bangladesh missions achieve export target
UNB
Dhaka, Jan 20: Most of the Bangladesh missions abroad including key ones like Washington, Berlin, London, Ottawa, Madrid, The Hague and Paris achieved their export targets for the first six months of the current fiscal (July-December 2010). The total export earning for July-December was US$ 10263.64 million, an impressive 17.04 per cent higher than the target of US$ 8769.00 million and also 41 per cent more than the corresponding period of the last fiscal (2009-10).
Out of the 44 Bangladesh missions, 25 achieved their export targets for the first six months of the current fiscal (July-December), according to the latest statistics provided
by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
The well-performing 25 missions are New Delhi, The Hague, Berlin, Amman, Ottawa, Muscat, Hanoi, Canberra, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Riyadh, Dubai, Brussels, Moscow, Pretoria, Ankara, Paris, Tashkent, Washington, London, Stockholm, Singapore, Madrid, Katmandu and Rome.
Of the 19 missions that could not achieve their targets for July-Dec 2010, the export growth for 13 of them was higher than the corresponding period of last fiscal.

Exports rise 41pc

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=168895
Exports rise 41pc
Refayet Ullah Mirdha
High demand coupled with a recovery from global recession has pushed up six months’ exports.
During July-December of the current fiscal year, exports soared 41 percent, compared with the same period a year ago, according to the latest data released by the Export Promotion Bureau yesterday. In the first six months, Bangladesh shipped goods worth $10.26 billion.
In December alone, the country earned $1.99 billion.
The combined export growth of both knitwear and woven garment rose 42.09 percent in the period compared with the same period a year ago.
Bangladesh exported knitwear worth $4.31 billion in the six months, registering 43.39 percent growth. The country earned $3.63 billion in woven garment exports during the period, which means 40.79 percent growth.
Shipbuilding is another bright spot, as the sector fetched $18.02 million from exports of ocean-going vessels. The sector recorded 1,924 percent growth.
Monoj Kumar Roy, joint secretary (export) of the commerce ministry, said every sector showed a positive trend with the recovery from the financial meltdown.
China is losing its market for higher production costs and a shortage of workers in its garment sector. “This is part of the reason exports from Bangladesh went high,” Roy said.
Salim Osman, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said many orders have shifted from China to Bangladesh.
“Also, the export of garment products is increasing in some new destinations. As a result, we are getting more markets and more value,” he said.
Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said the increased price of per unit of apparel item also contributed to the higher growth.
Although the prices of raw materials such as cotton and yarn have gone up on the international market, buyers are paying high for the finished products, he said. “As a result, the overall growth was higher.”
“Such high growth will continue in future as the orders are shifting to Bangladesh from other competing countries,” Parvez added.
Saiful Islam, chairman of Western Marine Shipyard Ltd, a leading shipbuilder, said the export of ocean-going vessels went high, as the growth in the sector was almost zero before.
“My company exported two vessels recently, and from now, I can export one ship per two months as I have abundant orders.”