The commerce ministry has proposed to open up nine new commercial wings abroad to expand bilateral trade with the respective countries.

But the majority of the existing 16 commercial wings are failing to reach the export targets, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

Speaking to The Daily Star, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said the cabinet may approve the proposal soon as the government is trying to strengthen economic diplomacy with potential trade partners.

Six of the new commercial wings are likely to open in New York, Birmingham, in any country of Central Asia, South Africa, in any country of Central Africa and in Agartala, India.

"Both commerce and foreign ministries are working out the details of the proposal for approval from the cabinet," Khan said.

The minister said it is true that many commercial wings fell short of the export targets. "But it was because of global recession."

"I have already asked the officials of the wings to perform well," Khan added.

Exporters have limited marketing capacity and knowledge about export destinations — the reason they could hardly exploit the potential of overseas markets, he said.

The minister said the government is training both businessmen and officials of such wings to help the country widen its export markets.

In the July-December period of fiscal 2008-09, the wings that missed the targets are in Moscow, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, Beijing, Yangon, NewDelhi, London and Tehran.

In the same period, actual earnings from the Moscow mission were $39.96 million against the $43.68 million target, $511.30 million from Paris against the target for $555.50 million, $1,159.89 million from Berlin against the $1,262.92 million target, $267.01 million from Brussels against the target for $295.31 million and $299.23 million from Madrid against the $335.28 million target.

Bangladesh logged actual earnings from Beijing at $51.26 million against the $58.90 million target, $3.18 million from Yangon against the target for $5.27 million, $154.61 million from New Delhi against the $196.85 million target, $790.36 million from London against the target for $816.33 million and $26.79 million from Tehran against the $28.38 million target.

In the July-December period, the wings that achieved the targets are Washington, Ottawa, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and Canberra.

The actual export earnings from the Washington Commercial Wing were $2,169.86 million against the target for $2,000.12 million and $314.49 million from Ottawa against the $297.77 million target, according to data on the July-December period of fiscal 2008-09.

In the period, the actual earnings from Tokyo were $93.94 million against the $93.33 million target, $20.88 million from Kuala Lumpur against the target for $13.65 million, $27.83 million from Dubai against the $25.76 million target and $26.61 million from Canberra against the $25.40 million target, EPB data shows.

reefat@thedailystar.net