The government's policy announcements for export-oriented development programmes ■re yet to be backed by neces sary field-level actions in most cases, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) felt

The observation came In the editorial write-up of the latest issue of DCCI Monthly Review.

Despite spurts in the export of some non traditional Items, the overall export performance tn relation to the country s long term needs to earn enough foreign exchange remain fundamentally weak, the Review noted.

"Export still lags consider ably behind import Given the likely external aid levels, more export earnings are needed to permit increased imports of current and capital inputs essential to the every process of our development", the write-up said

But. the DCCI observed, the existing export promotional policies are Inadequate In Bangladesh to sustain whatever small gains have been achieved in non-tradltlonal export.

"The minimum basis for a balanced strategy Is that policies should not be seriously biased against production for ex porting vis a vis production for the domestic market." the editorial maintained.

The DCCI also felt the urgency of establishing backward linkage, adding that "effective incentives are still not available to business In export-oriented ' sectors to procure inputs from domestic producers." DCCI Identified this as the reasca for the stagnation In the snare of local content of most -lon-tradl tional items.

To overcome these problems and to promote co-ordination among banks, ministries and the business circle, the DCCI suggested forming a national export promotion council.