GENEVA. May 4. Bangladesh has made considerable progress In its economic reforms, but needs to carry out more structural reforms to reap the full benefits, said a WTO report released here today, says AFP.

The government had managed to reduce tariffs and quantitative restrictions on imports and was maintaining a liberal Investment regime, said the report, by the secretariat of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Efforts had continued since 1992 to simplify and rationalise the country's trade regime. It added. The customs tariff was now Bangladesh's main trade policy Instrument, and despite sharp reductions, protection was still high.

But the report also said the trade regime lacked transparency in its application of trade and trade-related measures such as customs administration. tariff concessions and subsidies.

"Such lack of transparency allows considerable scope for

SNS demands

10 pc JS seats for women

By Staff Correspondent

The Sammllita Nari SamaJ. a coalition of the woman rights organisations, yesterday demanded that political parties nominate woman candidates for ten per cent of the 300 seats In parliament.

The demand came up during an exchange of views programme' of the women organisations, held in the Nari-grantha Prabartana office in the city.

The discussants also demanded Increase in the number of reserved seats for women In parliament and direct elections to those.

Chaired by Dr Naila Khan, the discussion was participated by, among others. Prof Nazina Slddlka, Hajera Sultana. Shirin Akhter and Sultana Akhter Rubi.

administrative discretion and even corruption, which In turn increases the uncertainty and costs of trade with and doing business In Bangladesh." said a summary of the report.

"While barriers to access in export markets are undoubtedly obstacles to Bangladesh's economic development, the main obstacles are home-grown.’ it added.

The report, along with a policy statement by Bangladesh's government, served as the basis for a WTO review of the country's trade policy here May 2 and 4.

Bangladesh, one of the leading least developed countries (LDC) in the WTO's 136 membership. has one of the most liberal regimes in South Asia in terms of Investment, offering relatively cheap and abundant labour, the report noted.

It highlighted World Bank estimates showing that annual foreign direct investment in Bangladesh more than quadrupled from 83 million dollars tn 1994-95 to 386 million dollars in 1997-98.

Most foreign direct investment went into the gas sector, said the report.

But it was hampered In other areas by a lack of basic infrastructure. the slow pace of privatisation. an inefficient financial system and a generally uncertain political climate, it added.

"These factors tend to Increase the cost of doing business in Bangladesh thereby impairing the competitiveness, not Just of foreign-owned enterprises but also of domestically-owned enterprises," said the re-port.

Devastating floods, combined with infrastructure problems such as power shortages and Inadequate port facilities led to a sharp drop in export frowth from 17.1 per cent in 997-98 to 2.9 per cent in 1998-99.

Textiles, especially clothing destined mostly for the United States and European Union, have dominated Bangladesh's exports and were a principal source of its economic growth in the 1990s.