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Exports to Australia down 17pc in FY'04

Lack of price competitiveness eludes maximisation of duty-free facility

ZAHIDUL HAQUE
Exports from Bangladesh to Australia dipped by 17 percent in 2003-2004, although the country started enjoying duty-free access to the Pacific country from the very beginning of the last fiscal year.
According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported goods worth $3,05,86,000 to Australia in 2003-04 while the amount was $3,68,44,000 in 2002-03.
An EPB official said there is a big market for readymade garments, knitwear and home textiles in Australian market but as the prices of those Bangladeshi items are higher than those of other competitors Bangladesh failed to increase its exports of these items.
"As the government does not allow imports of yarn through land ports, cost of imported yarn becomes higher increasing the prices of finished items," he said.
"Export of fertiliser, the major
exporting items from Bangladesh to Australia, declined during the period, resulting in the export fall," the official added.
According to export policy of the government, Karnafuli Fertiliser Company Ltd is the only enterprise that has permission for fertiliser export, he said. "But the company's fertiliser export was thin last fiscal," said the official.
He, however, said some new products including spices, synthetic ropes, golf-shaft, melamine tableware, cast iron articles and furniture have found their markets in Australia after getting the duty-free market access facility from July 1, 2003.
EPB organised a single country trade show in Sydney, Australia between April 6 and 8 this year to boost exports taking benefit of the trade privilege. The participants got $6 million spot orders from the fair.
But, Bangladesh's exports to Canada shot up 140 percent during the January-
December period of 2003 after getting similar duty-free access there effective from January 1, 2003.
Meanwhile, in a bid to up export to Australia, the Ministry of Commerce, Australian High Commission in Dhaka and the business houses dealing with Australia jointly formed Australia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry in January this year.
According to EPB, currently the trade figure is heavily tilted in favour of Australia, which exported products worth $220 million to Bangladesh in 2002-03 against imports valued at $35 million.
The other exporting items from Bangladesh to Australia are leather, jute goods, ceramics, handicrafts and frozen foods. On the other hand, Bangladesh imported pulses, oilseeds, oil, and medicines from the Pacific nation.