Sunday, January 2, 2011
![[Farmers]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vHThe0NerngdTyIMryrlq5ti15uONBh903jS9fwSCIpdE0wuomuUakvpjcsC9k3YG8n6X_ZO1isNrW3wEetEAwlMHgP1LtlP8bqznQtX4QVa4n8NTgwev45m7lThMHjqkYnnnZ=s0-d)
Most Bangladeshis earn their livings directly or indirectly from agriculture. Rice and jute are the primary crops; wheat is assuming greater importance; and tea is grown in hilly regions of the northeast. Bangladesh's fertile soil and normally ample water supply yield three rice crops in many areas. Through better flood control and irrigation measures, more intensive use of fertilizers and high-yielding seed varieties, increased price incentives, and improved distribution and rural credit networks, Bangladesh's labor-intensive agricultural sector has achieved steady increases in foodgrain production. 
Economy : Vital Statistics
Quality of Life Indicators
| Name | Population | Population Growth | Urban Population | Life Expectancy | Literacy | People per Doctor | People per Telephone | People per TV | Calorie Intake | Infant Mortality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 122.7 | 2.2% | 21% | 56 | 36.6% | 12,500 | 380.0 | 170.5 | 2,100 | 90 |
| Afghanistan | 21.2 | 1.9% | 19% | 44 | 31.6% | 7,358 | 390.0 | 114.4 | 1,710 | 164 |
| Bhutan | 0.7 | 2.3% | 7% | 49 | 40.9% | 4,255 | 155.7 | -- | 2,058 | 126 |
| India | 928.6 | 2.1% | 26% | 61 | 52.1% | 2,165 | 93.5 | 23.6 | 2,243 | 79 |
| Maldives | 0.2 | 3.0% | 31% | 64 | 92.6% | 5,330 | 17.9 | 33.3 | 2,416 | 55 |
| Nepal | 21.6 | 2.3% | 14% | 54 | 27.0% | 12,612 | 174.0 | 354.8 | 2,246 | 88 |
| Pakistan | 132.2 | 2.9% | 35% | 62 | 35.7% | 2,000 | 68.5 | 47.7 | 2,377 | 88 |
| Sri_Lanka | 18.2 | 1.2% | 22% | 72 | 89.3% | 5,888 | 88.1 | 19.2 | 2,286 | 14 |
Comparative Economics
| Name | Per Capita GDP (PPP) | GDP (PPP) | Per Capita GNP | Reserves excl. Gold | Current AC Balance | GDP Growth | Savings as % of GDP | Exports : 12 months | Inflation (CPI) | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri_Lanka | $3,030 | $53b. | $635 | $2.1b. | -$0.6b. | 5.7% | 16% | $3.6b. | 11.2% | $6.4b. |
| Maldives | $1,373 | $0.3b. | $470 | $0.04b. | -$0.05b. | 5.5% | 11% | $0.1b. | 3.1% | $0.1b. |
| Pakistan | $2,235 | $282b. | $440 | $2.3b. | -$1.5b. | 4.7% | 14% | $7.8b. | 8.9% | $26.1b. |
| India | $1,280 | $1,180b. | $310 | $16.4b. | -$2.7b. | 5.3% | 24% | $26.2b. | 8.2% | $85.2b. |
| Bangladesh | $1,290 | $151b. | $220 | $2.6b. | $0.2b. | 4.5% | 7% | $3.5b. | 6.4% | $14.8b. |
| Nepal | $1,165 | $25b. | $180 | $0.7b. | -$0.3b. | 7.0% | 10% | $0.4b. | 8.2% | $1.9b. |
| Afghanistan | $720 | $14b. | $150 | $0.2b. | -$0.1b. | 2.0% | 10% | $1.0b. | 56.7% | $5.4b. |
Economy of bangladesh 2001
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $230 billion (2001 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate: | 5.6% (2001 est.) |
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $1,750 (2001 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 30% industry: 18% services: 52% (2000 est.) |
Population below poverty line: | 36% |
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | owest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 29% |
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 34 (1995-96 ) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 5.8% (2000 est.) |
Labor force: | 64.1 million (1998) note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99 (1998) |
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY95/96) |
Unemployment rate: | 35% (2001 est.) |
Budget: | revenues: $4.9 billion expenditures: $6.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.) |
Industries: | cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar |
Industrial production growth rate: | 6.2% (2001 est.) |
Electricity - production: | 13.493 billion kWh (2000) |
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 92% hydro: 8% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
Electricity - consumption: | 12.548 billion kWh (2000) |
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2000) |
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2000) |
Agriculture - products: | rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry |
Exports: | $6.6 billion (2001) |
Exports - commodities: | garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood |
Exports - partners: | US 31.8%, Germany 10.9%, UK 7.9%, France 5.2%, Netherlands 5.2%, Italy 4.42% (2000) |
Imports: | $8.7 billion (2001) |
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, raw cotton, food, crude oil and petroleum products, cement |
Imports - partners: | India 10.5%, EU 9.5%, Japan 9.5%, Singapore 8.5%, China 7.4% (2000) |
Debt - external: | $17 billion (2000) (2000) |
Economic aid - recipient: | $1.575 billion |
Currency: | taka (BDT) |
Currency code: | BDT |
Exchange rates: | taka per US dollar - 57.756 (January 2002), 55.807 (2001), 52.142 (2000), 49.085 (1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997) |
Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June |
Virtual Bangladesh : Economy : Thumbnail Facts
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nokia 5800 4GB
Email to a FriendBe the first to review this product
Availability: In stock.
Tk19,600.00
Quick Overview
3.2" high-definition touchscreen
High-resolution widescreen video and superior surround sound
8gb microSD card, and sync your collection with Nokia Music software for PC
3.2 megapixel camera
Automatic screen rotation
High-resolution widescreen video and superior surround sound
8gb microSD card, and sync your collection with Nokia Music software for PC
3.2 megapixel camera
Automatic screen rotation
Play. Share. Touch.
The new Nokia XpressMusic sensation. A touchscreen that feels right, looks great, and sounds even better.
PlayThe dedicated media bar means mobile entertainment is always on hand. High-resolution widescreen video and superior surround sound, with built-in stereo speakers and an advanced music player. Download new sounds to an 8gb microSD card, and sync your collection with Nokia Music software for PC.
Share
Put your favourite people on your home screen and share moments and media as they happen. Shoot 3.2 megapixel stills, DVD-like video, and let Share on Ovi seamlessly showcase them online. With powerful 3.5G connection, broadcast yourself or download the latest videos in no time.
Touch
This amazing 3.2" high-definition touchscreen puts everything at your fingertips. Perfectly proportioned for one hand, featuring intuitive fingertip, stylus, or plectrum control, and vibrant touch response. With automatic screen rotation, a full keyboard for fast messaging, and handwriting recognition.
Box Contains
Nokia 5800 SIM-free mobile phone
Battery
Charger
Music headset
Connectivity cable
8 GB microSDHC card
Stand
Stylus plectrum in wrist strap
User guide
Mini DVD
3.2" high-definition touchscreen
High-resolution widescreen video and superior surround sound
8gb microSD card, and sync your collection with Nokia Music software for PC
3.2 megapixel camera
Automatic screen rotation
The new Nokia XpressMusic sensation. A touchscreen that feels right, looks great, and sounds even better.
PlayThe dedicated media bar means mobile entertainment is always on hand. High-resolution widescreen video and superior surround sound, with built-in stereo speakers and an advanced music player. Download new sounds to an 8gb microSD card, and sync your collection with Nokia Music software for PC.
Share
Put your favourite people on your home screen and share moments and media as they happen. Shoot 3.2 megapixel stills, DVD-like video, and let Share on Ovi seamlessly showcase them online. With powerful 3.5G connection, broadcast yourself or download the latest videos in no time.
Touch
This amazing 3.2" high-definition touchscreen puts everything at your fingertips. Perfectly proportioned for one hand, featuring intuitive fingertip, stylus, or plectrum control, and vibrant touch response. With automatic screen rotation, a full keyboard for fast messaging, and handwriting recognition.
Box Contains
Nokia 5800 SIM-free mobile phone
Battery
Charger
Music headset
Connectivity cable
8 GB microSDHC card
Stand
Stylus plectrum in wrist strap
User guide
Mini DVD
3.2" high-definition touchscreen
High-resolution widescreen video and superior surround sound
8gb microSD card, and sync your collection with Nokia Music software for PC
3.2 megapixel camera
Automatic screen rotation
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Simplified market access to EU cheers export industry
http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/business/3503.html
Simplified market access to EU cheers export industry
Kazi Azizul Islam
The export industry is upbeat about the EU, the largest market destination for Bangladesh, simplifying market access to the LDCs from January 1.
For Bangladesh’s apparel industry, simplification of market access would mean attires made of imported fabrics or less of value addition would get duty free access to Europe.
More than two thirds of Bangladesh’s export shipments are destined to European countries and they imported $5.72 billion worth of Bangladeshi goods out of $8.3 billion, the entire exports in five months of the current fiscal in November.
Until now, more than 90 per cent of Bangladeshi knitwear shipments enjoyed duty-free access to EU but around one third of the shipments of woven or cut and sewn apparels did not enjoy the facility.
With the Europeans leaning to diversify imports from Bangladesh and buy high value apparels from it due to costing, some in the industry, however, are for raising the prices for the Europe bound shipments for the development of the industry and its workers.
Zillul Hye Razi trade adviser to the delegation of the European Commission in Dhaka described the EU decision to simplify the import regime from the LDCs as the beginning of a new chapter.
He called it a liberal market access for Bangladesh and other LDCs to the European market.
Razi said new EU trade regime would provide duty free market access to non-textile exports as well.
Sayeeful Islam, chairman of the Concorde Garments Group, a leading exporter of shirts, said that simplified market access created a new opportunity to export to Europe high value products.
He, however, advised that the exporters need to remain rationally aware that the EU measure aimed at the development and welfare of the industry and workers in the LDCs.
He said explaining that if a shirt made in Bangladesh cost a European buyer $5.65 with 13 per cent duty earlier, from January 1 it would cost $5.
He said that the industry needed to develop negotiating skills if wanted justify why wanted to increase the price of export products.
The Centre for Policy Dialogue executive director, Professor Mustafizur Rahman, described the new EU trade regime as a ‘golden opportunity’ for Bangladesh.
‘It would,’ he said, ‘open up newer opportunities for the export of apparels, especially of woven and high value knitwear and outerwear as well as non-textile products.’
But he cautioned that the scope to import fabrics and yarns, it would create, could take away the competitive edge of the domestic backward linkage textile industries.
He, therefore, advised the government to provide cash incentives and other support measures to encourage the use of local fabrics and yarns.
Professor Mustafiz also advised the government to enhance trade facilitation service to the exporters so that they could overcome all non-tariff barriers to exploit the diverse high value marketing opportunities in the EU.
Simplified market access to EU cheers export industry
Kazi Azizul Islam
The export industry is upbeat about the EU, the largest market destination for Bangladesh, simplifying market access to the LDCs from January 1.
For Bangladesh’s apparel industry, simplification of market access would mean attires made of imported fabrics or less of value addition would get duty free access to Europe.
More than two thirds of Bangladesh’s export shipments are destined to European countries and they imported $5.72 billion worth of Bangladeshi goods out of $8.3 billion, the entire exports in five months of the current fiscal in November.
Until now, more than 90 per cent of Bangladeshi knitwear shipments enjoyed duty-free access to EU but around one third of the shipments of woven or cut and sewn apparels did not enjoy the facility.
With the Europeans leaning to diversify imports from Bangladesh and buy high value apparels from it due to costing, some in the industry, however, are for raising the prices for the Europe bound shipments for the development of the industry and its workers.
Zillul Hye Razi trade adviser to the delegation of the European Commission in Dhaka described the EU decision to simplify the import regime from the LDCs as the beginning of a new chapter.
He called it a liberal market access for Bangladesh and other LDCs to the European market.
Razi said new EU trade regime would provide duty free market access to non-textile exports as well.
Sayeeful Islam, chairman of the Concorde Garments Group, a leading exporter of shirts, said that simplified market access created a new opportunity to export to Europe high value products.
He, however, advised that the exporters need to remain rationally aware that the EU measure aimed at the development and welfare of the industry and workers in the LDCs.
He said explaining that if a shirt made in Bangladesh cost a European buyer $5.65 with 13 per cent duty earlier, from January 1 it would cost $5.
He said that the industry needed to develop negotiating skills if wanted justify why wanted to increase the price of export products.
The Centre for Policy Dialogue executive director, Professor Mustafizur Rahman, described the new EU trade regime as a ‘golden opportunity’ for Bangladesh.
‘It would,’ he said, ‘open up newer opportunities for the export of apparels, especially of woven and high value knitwear and outerwear as well as non-textile products.’
But he cautioned that the scope to import fabrics and yarns, it would create, could take away the competitive edge of the domestic backward linkage textile industries.
He, therefore, advised the government to provide cash incentives and other support measures to encourage the use of local fabrics and yarns.
Professor Mustafiz also advised the government to enhance trade facilitation service to the exporters so that they could overcome all non-tariff barriers to exploit the diverse high value marketing opportunities in the EU.
Four global state-owned cos seek gas tie-ups with Bapex
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=121622&date=2011-01-02
Four global state-owned cos seek gas tie-ups with Bapex
JVs to produce gas at 4 gas fields and conduct drilling in CHT
M. Azizur Rahman
Top state-owned global oil giants have lined up to tie up with Bapex to develop four Bangladeshi gas fields and explore hydrocarbon in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, officials said Saturday.
The firms — Chinese Cnooc and Sinopac Shingli, Thai PTTEP and Russian Gazprom -are interested to strike joint venture deals with the lone Bangladeshi state-owned exploration company to make a foothold in the country.
“Bapex made the invitation to the companies and they have already responded positively as they are convinced of the prospects of the four gas fields and potentials for new discoveries in the CHT,” an official said.
Bapex officials said some executives of the companies have visited the country and held primary negotiations. “We hope we can conclude talks as soon as possible and start exploration and development work,” he said.
The four companies are cash rich and won’t be shy of exploring gas in the restive CHT region where a slow-burning insurgency left 2,500 people killed since 1980s, another official said.
Although the government has signed a peace treaty with the main rebel group in 1997, private energy firms scouring oil and gas in the country have largely stayed out of the region for security region.
“Unlike the private firms, the state-owned companies won’t be sensitive to conducting exploration in the CHT. We can avoid time-consuming tender procedures if we strike deals with them,” the official added.
Top officials from Russian Gazprom and Thai PTTEP have recently visited the country and held talks with Petrobangla and state-owned Bapex over scopes to strike joint venture deals.
The visit follows after Bapex formally sent invitation letters to the state- owned firms to develop and produce natural gas from four potential onshore gas structures and the CHT region.
Malaysia’s state-owned Petronas, India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Chinese CNPC are also among the firms invited for the joint venture talks.
The four gas fields that Bapex put up for joint venture deals are Kotia, Joldi, Kafalong, Shitapara – all situated in gas block number 22 in greater Chittagong region. It spans over 13,900 square kilometers area.
Officials said the planned tie-ups will strengthen the country’s sole oil and gas exploration firm, which produces only 58 million cubic feet of gas daily (mmcfd) contributing less than three per cent of the national gas output.
In the past two decades since its inception in 1989, Bapex could produce gas from only three fields. Its exploration activities largely remained frozen earlier last decade due to lack of rigs.
Bapex has now only one joint venture with Canadian Niko Resources. Together, they developed Feni gas field but production remained suspended because of payment dispute. They also made some drilling work in Chhatak.
Four global state-owned cos seek gas tie-ups with Bapex
JVs to produce gas at 4 gas fields and conduct drilling in CHT
M. Azizur Rahman
Top state-owned global oil giants have lined up to tie up with Bapex to develop four Bangladeshi gas fields and explore hydrocarbon in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, officials said Saturday.
The firms — Chinese Cnooc and Sinopac Shingli, Thai PTTEP and Russian Gazprom -are interested to strike joint venture deals with the lone Bangladeshi state-owned exploration company to make a foothold in the country.
“Bapex made the invitation to the companies and they have already responded positively as they are convinced of the prospects of the four gas fields and potentials for new discoveries in the CHT,” an official said.
Bapex officials said some executives of the companies have visited the country and held primary negotiations. “We hope we can conclude talks as soon as possible and start exploration and development work,” he said.
The four companies are cash rich and won’t be shy of exploring gas in the restive CHT region where a slow-burning insurgency left 2,500 people killed since 1980s, another official said.
Although the government has signed a peace treaty with the main rebel group in 1997, private energy firms scouring oil and gas in the country have largely stayed out of the region for security region.
“Unlike the private firms, the state-owned companies won’t be sensitive to conducting exploration in the CHT. We can avoid time-consuming tender procedures if we strike deals with them,” the official added.
Top officials from Russian Gazprom and Thai PTTEP have recently visited the country and held talks with Petrobangla and state-owned Bapex over scopes to strike joint venture deals.
The visit follows after Bapex formally sent invitation letters to the state- owned firms to develop and produce natural gas from four potential onshore gas structures and the CHT region.
Malaysia’s state-owned Petronas, India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Chinese CNPC are also among the firms invited for the joint venture talks.
The four gas fields that Bapex put up for joint venture deals are Kotia, Joldi, Kafalong, Shitapara – all situated in gas block number 22 in greater Chittagong region. It spans over 13,900 square kilometers area.
Officials said the planned tie-ups will strengthen the country’s sole oil and gas exploration firm, which produces only 58 million cubic feet of gas daily (mmcfd) contributing less than three per cent of the national gas output.
In the past two decades since its inception in 1989, Bapex could produce gas from only three fields. Its exploration activities largely remained frozen earlier last decade due to lack of rigs.
Bapex has now only one joint venture with Canadian Niko Resources. Together, they developed Feni gas field but production remained suspended because of payment dispute. They also made some drilling work in Chhatak.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)