Record export earnings

A milestone has been reached in  export- earning. For the first time it  has  surpassed  previous  records notching up U$ 30.17  billion  ,representing 16.65 percent growth  at the close of the last fiscal year.  But  this record growth  comes with a  couple of critical   lessons that must  be heeded  if we are to build  robustly   up on the buoyant note   the last fiscal ended.

The message cannot be lost on us that  the  last six months of 2013 witnessed serious political turmoil that jolted  trade and commerce in the country rather severely.In spite of this and thanks to the determination  of  entrepreneurs ,aided by government incentives,to step up productivity   the  last fiscal ended with a  record good earning. Of course, from January to June,2014  we have had a calmer political climate which  was  of   help.

In the last fiscal ,however ,whilst garments export  was satisfactory that  of jute and jute goods  declined by 20 percent only to slightly improve  in the following months.

Curiously though, in the first five months –July to November— of the current fiscal  not marked by any inclement  political weather, the  overall positive trend could not be retained There has been a  shortfall in frozen foods ,leather and terry-towel exports

The downtrend  needs to be gone into  and found answers.First and foremost ,  acts of intimidation,blockades and hartals are like  self-imposed sanctions  that  political classes must abjure. Simultaneously ,as we upgrade our infrastructure we   diversify  our limited export basket.