As some countries now await permissions for starting their business in services sector in Bangladesh, the government mulls domestic regulations, according to official sources.

As many as 9 countries have already submitted their letters of expression of interest to the commerce ministry in this regard.

"There are some such applications pending. These should immediately be addressed to maintain a good relations with the countries concerned," a high official of the Ministry of Commerce told The Daily Star.

Repatriation of huge profits by some foreign telecommunication companies to their countries has worried the government and prompted it to actively consider

measures to control the services sector.

The telecoms and hospitality sectors are opened up to the alien firms according to a commitment given by the Bangladesh government to the World Trade Organisation in May 1997.

The country is entitled to restricting its services sector as per the WTO rules for the least developed countries (LDCs).

The rules allow Bangladesh to seek permission for the local companies to have openings for investment in any country to which it has already opened up the sector.

The sources said a meeting would soon be convened at the commerce ministry to decide on a study to determine the impacts of the openings for the foreign businesses.

The government also wants to

have an idea of the sectors that are suitable for investment by the local entrepreneurs.

Although a study on Bangladesh's services sector that was conducted voluntarily by United States International Trade Commission (USITC) is lying undecided at the relevant ministry, the ministry has asked the USITC to conduct a study afresh as they were not satisfied with the previous one describing it as 'incomplete'.

The commerce ministry is learnt to have taken an initiative to submit a proposal on such assessment to the Council of Advisers for its approval. On receipt of the advisers' nod, the ministry would appoint a consultant to do the needful.

The government will also seek assistance from donor countries in having such a study.