A high-level trade delega tion has gone to South Africa in a bid to seize trade opportunities there for Bangladeshi manufactured goods, encouraged by the performance of India and Pakistan, reports UNB.

The delegation comprised of government and private sector representatives will explore the export possibilities of products like pharmaceuticals, cosmetic goods, readymade garments and Jute goods.

Post and Telecommunications Minister M Tarlqul Islam is leading the nine-member delegation, which left here yesterday.

Commerce Minister M Shamsul Islam was to lead the delegation but he skipped the trip due to "more pressing business'" at home, officials said.

The delegation also has an alm to lure South African capital into Bangladesh.

particularly in the minerals sector.

Besides, they will also try to ensure smooth supply of iron, billets, coal and gold from the mineral rich county-

After establishing official tratfe relations in 1992. Bangladesh's export to South Africa has been increasing very fast every year and poised to be one of the major markets after USA and Europe.

In 1992-93 fiscal, the beginning year of trade between Dhaka and Pretoria. Bangladesh exported goods worth 1.1 million US dollars. The export figure jumped to 6.02 million US dollars In the following year.

Reflecting the potential of export growth. Bangladeshi products fetched 6.10 million US dollars only in July-May period of 1994-95 fiscal from the African market.

On the other hand, Bang-

ladesh Imported goods, mainly chemical products, worth 170.000 dollars during July-April period of 1994-95 fiscal from South Africa.

As jute and Jute goods figured as the major exportable earning 4.65 million dollars in July-May period of 1994 95, the trade delegation will attach special emphasis on increasing its exports.

Pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, frozen fish, readymade garments and knitwear, and ceramic are the other major items of exports showing prospect of growth in recent months to South Africa.

Officials said special efforts will be made to facilitate Import of gold from South Africa as a number of companies. including some from America, have already shown interest to set up Jewellery Industry in Bangladesh.

Jewellery has now appeared as a potential non-

tradttional export item for Bangladesh because of the country's advantage having a large workforce of craftsmen needed for the industry.

Development of trade relations with South Africa gets special emphasis in Dhaka because the country is regarded as the gateway of the African continent.

"We must develop trade links with South Africa to capture the other markets of the continent." said Shoaib Ahmed. Chairman of the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

A leading member of the trade delegation. Ahmed said Bangladesh has been encouraged by the performance of India and Pakistan who have already succeeded in exploiting the market.

"We are quite late in the race, but we have to try," he said, expressing his optimism of Increasing the export of Bangladeshi products

in the whole continent.

He Informed that once Africa, particularly Nigeria and Uganda, was a very good market of Jute. Jute goods and pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh. What we want to do now is to regain the market."

The TCB chairman, who was a Joint secretary at the Commerce Ministry before Joining the state trading body, said the corporation will try to reach understanding with concerned persons in South Africa to clear the way for more exports from Bangladesh

"Private sector (of Bangladesh) Is still very shy to the market We hope that they would enhance their activities after the Initiatives ol lire TCB." he said

Ahmed also observed that Africa could be a major market lor Bangladesh s garment Industry which often face difficulty in disposing big slock

lots.

The trade delegation will also explore the possibilities of exporting professional manpower, Including physicians and engineers, to South Africa which have a large number of Indian profession als working now.

Bangladesh recently estab lished diplomatic relation with South Africa after President Nelson Mandela scrapped the apartheid pol icy which, for decades, had isolated the country from rest of the world

A commercial counsellor has been appointed at the Bangladesh mission in Pretoria to promote trade and business with the eco nomlcally strong African country

The delegation, which also included Export Promotion Bureau Vice-Chairman Anlsul Haq Chowdhury. Is expected io return on September 16